Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton addressed reporters Thursday morning condemning the testimony of his former bodyguard Marcus Wright. Melton's statement prompted Judge Daniel Jordan to issue a gag order on the mayor's upcoming civil rights trial. Wright pled guilty to misdemeanor conspiracy in U.S. District Court Tuesday, but further implicated Melton with his statements. Witnesses say Melton, Wright and Melton's other bodyguard, Michael Recio, participated in the illegal demolition of a duplex on Ridgeway Street in August 2006.

Wright said in his statement that he drew his weapon and ran house occupant Evans Welch outside—a potential federal gun crime, had Wright not pled down to a lesser charge.

Melton described Wright as "a good and decent young man," but called his testimony inaccurate.

"I do have a problem with him admitting to something that he absolutely did not do. ... I've never been in a situation where Marcus has conspired to do anything. ... He did what he felt like he had to do, but he did not commit any conspiracy whatsoever."

He added that Recio also has never "done anything" that Melton considered "out of line."

Melton denied that there were any weapons used in the demolition: "That is absolutely not true. I've been around Michael and Marcus for three years, and during that entire three years not one of them has ever pulled their weapon from their holsters," Melton said, but later argued that a weapon was necessary upon entrance back in 2006.

"We're talking about a known crack house that's operated for about 20 years. Narcotics were sold out of there as recently as last night," he said. "I'm not going to send officers into a crack house with a slingshot. They're going to be able to protect themselves, although neither one of them needed their weapons that night."

Melton also maintained that Welch had invited his bodyguards into the house, apparently before they destroyed his home.

Melton would not take questions at the press conference, but repeatedly hammered his claim that the duplex deserved demolition. He said he spoke to a woman next door to the Ridgeway Street ruins—a witness during his 2007 state trial for allegations stemming from the same demolition—who admitted to using drugs and being a prostitute. He made no mention of any arrests arising from the conversation, but asked the Hinds County sheriff's office to join with the Jackson Police Department and other government agencies to work to restrain drug activity in the area.

The gag order prohibits all parties, attorneys and witnesses from speaking to the media about anything that could "interfere with a fair trial...with exception for matters of public record and the mere assertion of innocence." The order also specifically declares as off-limits any evidence subject to a pre-trial motion, which would include Melton's referring the Ridgeway Street duplex as "a crack house."

Federal prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to exclude any evidence of drug activity at the duplex from Melton's state trial. They argue that any such evidence is irrelevant to charges of civil rights violations. Jordan has not ruled on the motion.

Melton's statement is in-line with his defense strategy during the 2007 state trial. His attorney Dale Danks managed to convince a jury to find the mayor not guilty after incriminating the house as the seat of drug activity—even though no drugs were recovered from the property during Melton's demolition of the home.

Melton and Recio's federal trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 12. Recio has since filed for a separate trial.

Previous Commentsshow

I don't know how you guys managed to sit and listen to this drivel without cracking up. I probably would have split my sides from laughing at this foolishness. If he had knowledge of drugs being sold ANYWHERE, he should have called the police. If he had knowledge of prostitution going on ANYWHERE, he should have called the police. He's probably lying again and when he gets caught in the lie, he'll put that sheepish "aw, shucks, you caught me" grin on his silly face and try to play it off. Hats off to you guys! I'm still laughing.

honey2me

Oct 9 2008

Correction: I sure he's lying again!

honey2me

Oct 9 2008

A captain always goes down with his ship...

LatashaWillis

Oct 9 2008

I'm surprised the judge hasn't said anything or admonished him yet. What he did was stupid... plain ole stupid... It was a funny little video, though. It gave me entertainment over my lunch.

Puck

Oct 9 2008

"That is absolutely not true. I've been around Michael and Marcus for three years, and during that entire three years not one of them has ever pulled their weapon from their holsters," Melton said, but later argued that a weapon was necessary upon entrance back in 2006. Huh? They pulled weapons when I was on the ride-along with them in April 2006 at a gas station.

DonnaLadd

Oct 9 2008

I'm surprised the judge hasn't said anything or admonished him yet. The judge in the case issued a gag order. I wonder what the over/under is that Melton will violate the order.

golden eagle

Oct 9 2008

Last night, I was driving on Ridgeway Street and police had a roadblock right in front of "Frank's House". I wonder why. Things that make you go hmmmm.

golden eagle

Oct 10 2008

Apparently U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton didn’t want to move against Mayor Melton because he considered him a friend. So it became necessary for the Justice Department to send in a special prosecution team to take care of business. What’s so troublesome is that it took the Justice Department (DOJ) over a year to investigate and indict ole’ Frank and his boys on charges of civil rights violations, which are serious enough, but Lampton apparently refused to prosecute more serious cases against this nefarious trio and so has the Justice Department, TSA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. What I’m talking about is the seemingly forgotten incidents wherein Frank, Reccio and Wright all violated federal law, on numerous occasions, by carrying firearms on planes when they weren’t qualified to do so. Frank went so far as to falsify and present various documents indicating that he was a bona fide law enforcement officer (LEO) and all three of them falsified official records that they’d had the appropriate TSA training in order to fly armed; even if Reccio and Wright had a valid need to fly armed. TSA’s only apparent reaction to their unlawful conduct was to issue a “letter” telling Frank to stop flying with his guns. People all over our country are being arrested and/or receiving substantial civil penalties by TSA for engaging in lesser offenses. Frank flew out of Jackson at least six times while he was armed, posing as an LEO and once for by-passing TSA screening operations. When Frank flew out of Jackson while armed it stands to reason that he flew back armed. When he did so he committed 4-6 felony crimes and Wright and Reccio committed at least 1-2 offenses (certifying they’d received the LEO flying armed training). Multiply that times twelve and you have a potential 48-72 federal violations by Frank and 12-24 violations for each member of his goon squad. This doesn’t take into account numerous potential civil violations of TSA regulations that should have resulted in monetary fines that could easily exceed $200,000. Why haven’t they been fined by TSA and or criminally charged by TSA or the FBI for these offenses? Melton has freely admitted to the media that he flew on commercial flights while armed with a gun(s). That admission alone is enough to convict “Felonious Frank,” as he is often referred to by Kim Wade, and his two cohorts. I believe TSA has its own agenda, but the FBI is hampered by the U.S. Attorney. Lampton is admittedly friends with Frank and if Lampton doesn’t want a case to be presented to a federal grand jury, then it won’t happen. Frankly (no pun intended), TSA doesn’t want to be embarrassed by the fact that senior TSA officials in Jackson, MS engaged in a conspiracy to violate federal regulations. This was done to facilitate Frank with his firearm fetish after Frank pitched a little temper tantrum at the Jackson airport in July 2005 when he was denied the opportunity to carry his guns on an airplane by TSA (can’t you just visualize this little fit by Frank). These TSA officials, some of whom have more than a casual acquaintance with Frank, hatched a scheme wherein Frank would use his bogus badge, along with a “bogus letter,” signed by Police Chief Shirlene Anderson, that would permit the little guy to fly with his guns – knowing full-well that Frank wasn’t an LEO and that he wasn’t in compliance with other federal regulations governing LEOs flying armed. TSA internal affairs, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and Congressman Bennie Thompson have all been made infinitely aware of these facts and yet no one has been held accountable. Why our local print media has failed to adequately investigate this, even after being provided with ample evidence, is beyond my comprehension. I hope the JFP with use this as a springboard to really do some investigative reporting and spur public demand that Frank, his cronies and TSA officials, must be held accountable for justice to be served.

Jerimiah

Oct 14 2008