MERIDIAN, Miss. (WJTV) – A former Meridian police officer pled guilty on Wednesday to one count of federal extortion under color of right.
According to U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, 27-year-old Royric “Roy” Benamon pulled over a driver at night in Lauderdale County in April 2020. Benamon solicited and received from the driver a cash payment in exchange for not issuing the driver a ticket.
The former officer was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 28, 2019. He was charged with two counts of extortion under color of right, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a).
Benamon is expected to be sentenced on March 3, 2021, in Jackson. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
LATEST STORIES:
- East Mississippi Correctional Facility inmate dies at local hospital
- Sheriff’s deputies bust underground ‘superspreader’ parties across L.A. County
- Man lived inside Chicago airport for 3 months before detection, prosecutors say
- After this week, you’ll be one step closer to a $1,400 stimulus check
- Dog and goat serving as mayor raise money to renovate playground