A former Mississippi sheriff lied Tuesday when questioned by FBI agents about requesting and receiving nude photos and videos of female inmates and preferential treatment at the prisons he oversees, federal prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty to making a statement.
Terry Grassery, 61, of Macon, served as Noxubee County Sheriff for eight years until January 2020.
According to his indictment issued last year, Grassery used Facebook to request a video from an inmate on March 5, 2019, and received multiple nude images from her that day. According to her indictment, Grassery sent messages back to the inmate, saying things like “I love you” and “You have a perfect body.”
South Carolina prison supervisor charged with accepting more than $200,000 in bribes and obtaining 173 cell phones from inmates
According to the indictment, Grassery gave inmates benefits that other inmates did not receive or did not receive as frequently, including the use of prohibited cellphones and tobacco. She was also appointed as her trustee and given the job of cooking inside the prison.
A former Mississippi sheriff has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI. (Fox News)
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Grassery lied during a July 2020 FBI interview that he had requested photos and videos from inmates, and that statement was used to inform his investigation and the inmates at the Noxubee County Jail. It was said that the purpose was to influence the treatment of Office of the Southern District of Mississippi.
A federal grand jury indicted Grassery on multiple charges, including wire fraud and destroying or falsifying records in a federal investigation. He faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of making false statements. Sentencing is scheduled for August 7th.
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Vance Phillips, one of Grasserie’s former council members, pleaded guilty last year to using an interstate commerce facility for the purpose of bribery. Phillips could be sentenced to up to five years in prison. His sentencing has not been scheduled, according to court records.
