In a disturbing case of brutality, former law enforcement officers in Mississippi have been handed significant prison sentences for their involvement in the torture of two Black men. The six white officers, known as the "Goon Squad," pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges for their actions during a no-warrant house raid in Rankin County, a suburb of Jackson, last year.

U.S. District Judge Tom Lee delivered the sentencing on Wednesday. Christian Dedmon, a former Rankin County sheriff's deputy, received a 40-year federal prison term, while ex-deputy Daniel Opdyke was sentenced to 17.5 years. The attack on Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker was racially motivated, as the men were targeted after a neighbor complained about them staying in a white woman's home.

During the incident in January 2023, the white deputies subjected Jenkins and Parker to hours of beatings, torture, and sexual assault. Jenkins was shot in the mouth during a mock execution gone wrong. The officers also attempted to cover up their actions by planting drugs and guns, along with filing false charges against the victims. Racial slurs and stun guns were used while telling the men to "go back to their side of the river," a reference to the majority Black city of Jackson.

Judge Lee described the former officers' conduct as "egregious and despicable" and handed down sentences at the top end of the range under sentencing guidelines. Hunter Elward, another ex-deputy, received a 20-year prison term, while former Lt. Jeffrey Middleton was sentenced to 17.5 years for their roles in the incident.

Prosecutors revealed additional details about the "Goon Squad" and their operations during Tuesday's sentencing hearing. Middleton was identified as the mastermind behind the plan to cover up the raid and shooting, even going as far as threatening to have anyone who revealed the truth killed. Brett McAlpin, another ex-deputy, and former Richland policeman Joshua Hartfield are scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday.

Representing the victims, attorney Malik Shabazz issued a warning to police officers nationwide, stating that commanders who allow their subordinates to commit crimes and abuse individuals will be held just as responsible as the perpetrators themselves.

The victims, Jenkins and Parker, who were present during the sentencing, had advocated for strict sentences. Parker expressed ongoing struggle with the repercussions of that night, while Jenkins felt that justice was finally being served and expressed a desire to move on from the ordeal.

Jenkins sustained a broken jaw and a lacerated tongue from the shooting, describing the acts committed against him as unimaginable. He singled out Dedmon as the worst offender, with federal prosecutors alleging that Dedmon sexually assaulted the men.

In a poignant moment during the hearing, Elward addressed the victims directly, expressing remorse and admitting his inability to make amends. Parker forgave him, showing an incredible level of grace. Middleton, however, did not make eye contact with the victims but apologized for tarnishing the reputations of Rankin County, law enforcement, and his family. Opdyke, who cried in court, expressed remorse and acknowledged the weight of his actions.

In a separate incident, Dedmon and Opdyke had already pleaded guilty to beating a white motorist during a traffic stop in December 2022.

Jenkins and Parker have filed a civil lawsuit against Rankin County and Sheriff Bryan Bailey, while organizations like the NAACP and other civil rights groups are calling for Bailey's resignation or removal from office due to what they deem a "poisonous culture" of police brutality.