Three Sentenced to Decades in Mississippi Drug Cases

BOONEVILLE, Miss. — Three defendants were sentenced to 10 or more years in prison in Prentiss County Circuit Court, following guilty pleas in separate drug cases, according to court documents.

Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Mills Jr. sentenced William Kelly Rhodes and Vanessa Gracia to 10 years each for trafficking heroin. The sentences will be served day for day, with no eligibility for parole or early release. Both defendants will also face five years of post-release supervision, court records show.

The convictions stemmed from a search warrant executed at a residence on County Road 1361 in Rienzi. Law enforcement officers recovered more than 1,500 grams of heroin, along with smaller quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, and psilocybin. The investigation was led by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and involved deputies from the Prentiss and Tishomingo county sheriff’s departments.

Antonio Vasser pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 to felon in possession of a weapon and sale of methamphetamine. Judge Mills sentenced him to 15 years in prison, with five years of post-release supervision. His convictions resulted from separate investigations by the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department working with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. Both agencies are part of the North Mississippi Narcotics Unit.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kyle Robbins and Megan French, according to the district attorney’s office. Jason D. Herring is the district attorney for the First Circuit Court District, which covers parts of northern Mississippi.

Source: Original Article