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The Shelby County District Attorney's Office officially dropped all charges against Artis Whitehead, the man wrongfully convicted in connection with the 2003 daytime armed robbery at B.B. King’s nightclub, leading to a 249-year-sentence imposed by the trial court.
The Tennessee Innocence Project took on Whitehead’s case in the later years, prompting a comprehensive review of the facts of the case by the Justice Review Unit in the Shelby County DA’s Office.
Among other things, this review revealed that of the 7 victims, only 2 were ever able to identify Whitehead, and 1 of the 2 has since recanted; that multiple witnesses described a suspect that was substantially different in build and height from the defendant; and that police deceptively passed off as an anonymous Crimestoppers tip information that actually came from a confidential informant seeking to gain leniency from police on his own charges, someone who had previously been found by a federal judge in a different case to have provided false information for such leniency.
After the JRU conceded in court that the conviction was fatally flawed, the court granted Whitehead a new trial. Following the efforts of the TN Innocence Project, a judge granted Whitehead a new trial. Subsequently, the DA’s Office decided not to pursue a retrial and instead dismissed all charges against Mr. Whitehead on Wednesday.
Happening in Court
Last week our office secured the conviction of Carlos Adams and Tyrus Hampton. Adams and Hampton were charged with first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in May 2020. Memphis police found a deceased, male victim inside his vehicle who appeared to have died from a gunshot wound. The victim’s personal belongings were also missing. Video surveillance would later show both Adams and Hampton exiting the victim’s car with two large boxes. Both men entered guilty pleas of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 6 years.
ADA Steve Crossnoe handled this case.
The trial for the 1988 cold case against Tony Stafford for aggravated rape continues this week as experts begin to take the stand. The rape kit of the victim was tested in 2016. Stafford currently remains in custody.
ADA Dru Carpenter is handling this case.
Our office secured the conviction of Marquan Wright this week. Wright was charged in July 2019 with aggravated robbery after using a firearm to steal a gun and money from the victim. Wright was sentenced to 8 years.
ADA Devon Dennis handled this case.
DA Mulroy attends 2024 Prosecutor Advocacy Day Conference in Washington, D.C.
(L-R) Tennessee DA Conference Executive Director Steve Crump, Congressman David Kustoff, DA Mulroy, and US Attorney Mike Dunavant
DA Mulroy, along with other TN DAs and staff, attended the National District Attorneys Association two-day conference in Washington, DC this week. Prosecutors and staff heard presentations on best law enforcement practices and methods with TN Congressman on Capitol Hill.
As part of the National District Training Association, DA Mulroy met with local congressman, David Kustoff to discuss federal aid for victims, witness assistance, The West Tennessee Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, and organized retail theft.
(L-R) US Attorney Mike Dunavant, DA Mulroy, Senator Marsha Blackburn, DA Courtney Lynch, Tennessee DA Conference staff member Brittany Lavalle
DA Mulroy also met with Senator Marsha Blackburn to discuss federal funding for victim witness assistance and the efforts of the West Tennessee Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
 On February 20, our office will host the first Expungement Clinic and Job Fair of the year. The nighttime event will take place at New Covenant Seventh Day Adventist Church from 4pm-8pm.
SCDAG's Office in the News
“Some of the 120 prosecutors working in the Shelby County District Attorney General's Office make as much as $70,000 more than their colleagues who work next to them.
That pay disparity doesn’t have anything to do with experience or performance. It’s a function of who signs their paycheck: the county or the state.
“These county employees ... do the same duties, the same work, side-by-side,” Mulroy said. “They have the same authority under state law and have the same responsibilities. They swear the same oath. They’re just not paid the same.”
Pay disparity in DA’s Office could hamper prosecutorial abilities via Daily Memphian
NOTE: To make a difference in the conversation on pay disparity, contact your County Commissioner at 901-222-1000.
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“Shelby County is one of four counties across Tennessee that employs both state prosecutors and county employees to handle a high volume of prosecutions.
But a considerable salary disparity between state and county staff has gone from “chronic problem to acute,” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told commissioners on Jan. 30.
He said the discrepancy – heightened after the state provided salary raises as much as 15 percent last year - continues to create a strain on staff morale and hampers public safety as Mulroy repeated that over 10 county prosecutors have been identified as leaving the office soon.”
DA Mulroy asks Commissioners to draw from budget to address ‘two-tiered’ office salaries via FOX13
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“After Fitzgerald's ruling, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said it did not plan to re-try Whitehead's case. With that decision filed in writing Wednesday, all charges against Whitehead were dismissed, and Whitehead's record will show as if he was charged and had his case dropped.”
‘A happy day’: Man wrongfully convicted of Memphis robbery declared innocent after 20 years behind bars via The Commercial Appeal
Thanks for reading,
 Steve Mulroy
District Attorney
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