The final defendant involved in the case that targeted the violent activities, drug trafficking, and money laundering of the Simon City Royals prison gang has been sentenced.
Jackson native Joshua Miller, 33, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy, including conspiracy to murder, related to his participation in the gang.
According to court documents, the Simon City Royals were a violent prison gang operating primarily in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but with members and associates acting on their behalf outside of prison throughout the Magnolia State, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and elsewhere. Through their sophisticated structure and an alliance with the violent Gangster Disciples gang, the Simon City Royals engaged in a host of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, money laundering, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, large-scale drug trafficking, and fraud.
“Society simply cannot function if criminals and gangs are allowed to inflict violence on individuals and communities without consequences, and this years-long investigation and prosecution demonstrates that such criminality will not go unchecked,” U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “I want to express extreme gratitude to our law enforcement partners for their tremendous efforts in putting an end to the reign of terror perpetrated by the Simon City Royals members and affiliates convicted in this case.”
The gang was responsible for the brutal murder of a prison inmate in 2018, when a Simon City Royals leader issued a “kill on sight” order, directing any member who encountered the targeted inmate to murder him. In January 2018, Dillon Heffker and Robert Williams acted on the order, stabbing the victim dozens of times with improvised prison knives. Leaders of the Simon City Royals rewarded Heffker and Williams for the murder by arranging for hundreds of dollars to be directed to their prison commissary accounts.
“In over 40 years of working with law enforcement and the State and federal courts in Mississippi, this case took as many serious offenders off the street as any I can remember,” U.S. Marshal Daniel R. McKittrick. “Thanks to all the agencies that work together to try and keep our communities safe.”
The Simon City Royals were also responsible for the kidnapping and torture of a former gang member for perceived violations of the gang’s code of conduct. In 2015, a member of the Simon City Royals kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and forced him into a hotel room. There, Simon City Royals members and associates tied the victim to a chair, interrogated him, tortured him, and burned off his gang-affiliated tattoo.
In addition, the gang engaged in widespread drug trafficking, including smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, heroin, and benzodiazepines into dozens of Mississippi state prison facilities. The gang distributed these dangerous substances, including nearly 100% pure crystal methamphetamine, to inmates throughout the prison system.
The following individuals related to the Simon City Royals have been sentenced:
- 48-year-old Allen Posey, 48, of Jackson, 20 years
- Jonathan Davis, 39, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, 30 years and 5 months
- Jeremy Holcombe, 43, of Meridian, Mississippi, 20 years
- Jonathan Burnett, 39, of Birmingham, Alabama, 22 years and 6 months
- Hank Chapman, 38, of Ripley, Mississippi, 3 years
- Jason Hayden, 42, of Picayune, Mississippi, 5 years
- Gavin Pierson, 33, of San Diego, 21 years and 10 months
- Justin Shaw, 36, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, 25 years
- Bobby Brumfield, 44, of New Orleans, 15 years and 8 months
- Jordan Deakles, 31, of Gulfport, Mississippi, 2 years and 6 months
- Bryce Francis, 43, of Columbus, Ohio, 15 years
- Anthony Murphy, 30, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 10 years
- Chancy Bilbo, 31, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 20 years
- Dillon Heffker, 32, of Bay St. Louis, 35 years
- Douglas Jones, 34, of Jackson, 19 years and 7 months
- Cody Woodall, 31, of Gulfport, 5 years
- Michael Muscolino, 43, of Phoenix, 5 years
- Valerie Madden, 54, of Chicago, 2 years
- Samuel Conwill, 45, of Tupelo, Mississippi, time served of 20 months
- Jason Collins, 40, of Loraine, Ohio, 5 years
- Justin Leake, 43, of Meridian, 25 years
- Michael Dossett, 42, of Carriere, Mississippi, 6 years and 6 months
- Angel Labauve, 43, of Picayune, Mississippi, 9 months
- Bruce Floyd, 42, of Senatobia, Mississippi, 10 years and 5 months
- Jacquelyn Harmon, 33, of Senatobia, 1 year and 6 months
- Cody Myrick, 33, of Grenada, Mississippi, 1 year and 8 months
- Craig Thomas, 36, of Grenada, two years and 3 months
- Arvis Tolbert, 43, of Hurley, Mississippi, 3 years
- Preston Edwards, 36, of Jackson, 21 years and 10 months
- Catherine Perry, 41, of Tupelo, 5 years
- John Brooks, 37, of Greenwood, Mississippi, 10 years
- Alana Dickey, 21, of Holly Springs, 5 years of probation
- Austin Ruby, 35, of Holly Springs, 10 years
- Chris Vincent, 20, of Gulfport, 5 years and 2 months
- Trevor Overby, 45, of Jackson, time served of 18 months
- Anthony Rouse, 33, of Picayune, 10 years
