7 charged with gang-related assault in Mississippi prison

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – Seven men were indicted on claims that they took part in gang-related assaults in a Mississippi prison.

Charged with one or two counts of aggravated assault in aid of racketeering are Donald Jones, Wilton Johnson, Jeremy Smith, Carl McMillian, James Vaughn, Justin Hannah and Joe Johnson.

Federal prosecutors said the men are all members of the Simon City Royals gang. An April 23 indictment filed in federal court in Oxford said the men took part in two assaults at East Mississippi Correctional Facility near Meridian in May 2018. The indictment said the assaults caused “serious bodily injury” and were intended to maintain and increase the position of the Simon City Royals.

Court records showed federal public defenders will be appointed for the men. They’re scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

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