The Clarion Ledger is reporting that a woman in Southaven, MS approached another woman in her driveway last Thursday and demanded her car.  The woman quickly got her young children out of the car, and gave it up without incident.  The woman then allegedly drove the car to an RV business, where she told employees she had a gun and demanded money.  The employees did not believe the claim and restrained her until officers arrived.

Why did they not believe her?  Perhaps because she was in a bikini. Let me be the first to tell you that Mississippi does not have a dress code for committing crimes.  In the words of Martha and the Vandellas, “It doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as you are there . . . .”

Incidentally, carjacking can be a state charge, or a federal charge.  In state court, carjacking (1st) is a crime punishable by a fine and up to 15 years.  In federal court, carjacking is punishable by up to 25 years.  These penalties can be enhanced by using a firearm in the commission of the crime.

So the next time your husband eyeballs a woman in a bikini, give him a break.  He is only checking her for concealed weapons.

If you or a family member have been arrested, or are under investigation  in the state of Mississippi on felony charges and you need help,  give me a call at 601-991-1099.  If you live outside of Jackson, Mississippi, call my Toll-Free Line at 866-991-1555.

Or you can e-mail me at at clarence@guthriefirm.com.

Shortly after 10 a.m. today, a man with a red bandanna and hair net across his face entered the Citizens Bank branch in Forest, Mississippi, east of Jackson, and pointed a pistol at a teller.  The man had enough foresight to bring his own bag, and the teller filled it with money.  The man left the bank on foot, and police found the hair net on a trail in the woods behind the bank.  After running dogs through the woods, the police failed to apprehend the suspect.  They think he lives close to the bank due to his ability to slip through the area so easily.

Bank robbery has been classified as a federal crime since 1934.  It is defined as:

the taking or attempted taking of anything of value from a person or presence of another by the use of force and violence or intimidation when the property is insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is the property of any bank, credit union or any savings and loan association that is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System or organized or operating under the laws of the United States.

I had a bank robbery case in federal court last year, and I’m likely to have another one soon.  Bank robbery is on the rise lately, according to the FBI.  These cases are always challenging.   Trying a case in federal court is very different than trying a case in state court, and the same attorney that did the closing on your house is probably not the right attorney for your case in federal court.

Federal criminal law is a specialized field that requires knowledge of federal rules of evidence, procedure, and the sentencing guidelines.  The sentences tend to be stiff, and convictions can result in imprisonment, restitution, large fines, community service, probation, and parole, among other things.  There are other nuances to federal criminal law and procedure, so if you find yourself in a tangle with the feds, give me a call before you do anything else, and we’ll get you through it.

If you or a family member have been arrested, or are under investigation for Bank Robbery in the state of Mississippi and you need help, give me a call at 601-991-1099. If you live outside of Jackson, Mississippi, call my Toll-Free Line at 866-991-1555.

Or you can e-mail me at clarence@guthriefirm.com.