Happy Halloween from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office!
The truly scary thing this Halloween is the fact that so many Shelby Countians are staring down the barrel of an end to their SNAP benefits, which stop tomorrow.
The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) used to fund food stamps and now funds EBT cards. They’re a lifeline for struggling households, almost all of whom have disabled, elderly, or child members, with people working jobs but still finding it hard to make ends meet. Due to the federal government shutdown, they won’t be issued starting Nov. 1. That means over 150,000 folks in our county will be at risk of going hungry.
There are ways that both the federal and state governments could fill this gap, but they don’t seem likely anytime soon. Thankfully, there are private organizations out there that can help—if we help them. Here are several local organizations doing great work feeding the hungry, who will be stretched extra-thin due to the SNAP hiatus.
Mid-South Food Bank: https://www.midsouthfoodbank.org/find-food
MIFA https: https://www.mifa.org/applyonline
Church Health Center: https://churchhealth.org/
We Are Memphis: https://wearememphis.com/jobs/volunteer/
Most of us will be anything but hungry this Halloween weekend as we nosh on candy. Let’s celebrate Halloween by making the coming weeks a little less scary for those in need.
Bond Set in Homicide Case of Local Rapper: Assistant District Attorney Tanisha Johnson successfully argued a bond hearing for Kevin Brown, who faces charges of First-Degree Murder, two counts of Criminal Attempt—First Degree Murder, and additional offenses in connection with the March 22, 2025, killing of Letorian Hunt, also known as rapper “Sayso P.”
The defense requested a relatively low, affordable bond, citing Brown’s community ties, work history, lack of prior criminal record, and the circumstantial nature of the evidence. The State opposed a low bond, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges, the high likelihood of conviction, and Brown’s prior attempt to evade prosecution in Clarksville.
The court set a presumably unaffordable , and Brown remains in custody as the case proceeds.
ADA Tanisha Johnson handled the hearing.
Pair Sentenced in Cheddar’s Assault Case: Criminal Court Judge Ray Lepone sentenced Darius Brantley to a split confinement deal—one year of confinement, two years probation, following his guilty plea to aggravated assault. The State opposed his request for probation, highlighting crime scene footage, victim impact statements, and other aggravating factors. Darius was identified as the primary aggressor in the Cheddar’s assault, in which he and his family violently attacked a host, leaving him unconscious and requiring medical attention.
Kaitlin Brantley, Darius’s sister and co-defendant, also received a three-year sentence for aggravated assault. She serves this sentence consecutively to her previous conviction for assaulting a McDonald’s manager while on probation, after the State successfully opposed her requests for diversion and probation.
Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder: Assistant District Attorney Devon Dennis successfully handled the case of Calvin Mitchell, who pleaded guilty to 20 years at 100% for Murder in the Second Degree.
The charge stems from a 2023 shooting at the Elvis Presley Inn, where Mitchell shot Willie Becton in the head after a verbal confrontation. Family members of the victim attended and supported the plea.
Mitchell had also been wanted in connection with an earlier execution-style shooting in Whitehaven and was arrested in October 2023 near a warehouse on Jackson Avenue. Video showed Mitchell pull a handgun and shoot the unarmed victim, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
ADA Devon Dennis handled the case.
DA Mulroy Joins Panel Discussion at “Moving Memphis Forward” Forum
 (Pictured L-R): Councilman JB smiley, Pastor Sherri Cowley of Greer Chapel Curch, and DA Mulroy
On Thursday, DA Mulroy participated as a panelist at the Moving Memphis Forward forum, hosted by Dr. Telisa Franklin at Greer Chapel Church. . The panel, which included Mayor Young, Councilman J.B. Smiley, and General Sessions Judge Marcy Ingram, , discussed pressing local issues, including crime and the ongoing federal task force, offering insights on how the community and law enforcement can work together to address challenges and promote safety.
DA Mulroy Joins Lemoyne-Owen College Homecoming Celebrations
DA Mulroy attended the Lemoyne Owen College homecoming this past weekend. Pictured with Reverend Dr. Rosalyn Nichols (M) and Lemoyne Owen College president Dr. Christopher B. Davis (R).
DA Mulroy Supports ADA Sam Winnig’s Team at ASBEE Kosher BBQ Festival
 This past Sunday DA Mulroy attended the 2025 ASBEE Kosher BBQ Festival in support of ADA Sam Winnig's team "Grillty as Charged."
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Standing with Survivors, Pursuing Justice
 In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, our office proudly wore purple to show support for survivors and reaffirm our commitment to justice and prevention. The Domestic Violence Unit and Victim/Witness Coordinators work daily to support victims, hold offenders accountable, and connect families with vital resources. As the month concludes, we encourage everyone to learn the warning signs, check in on others, and speak up—because silence allows abuse to continue.
"Its success has drawn praise from local prosecutors, including Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy; Dyer and Lake County District Attorney Danny Goodman; and Haywood, Gibson, and Crockett County District Attorney Frederick Agee...Together, the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and We Fight Monsters are taking a two-pronged approach to cracking down on crime while offering a path toward recovery and redemption." |West Tennessee task force cracks down on violent crime and drug trafficking| via ABC24
“First, consider the source. This is the same senator who promised the world he’d get the Legislature to oust me, even calling me ‘Interim DA’ for a time. Bereft of any real supporting evidence, the removal proposal gained no traction, even among the conservative GOP supermajority. The same senator whose baseless complaints about supposed financial mismanagement were refuted by an audit by the Republican Comptroller which yielded no adverse ‘findings.” The same senator who is 0 for 5 for meritless ethics complaints against me, all dismissed by a state ethics board which could hardly be described as a left-leaning body biased in my favor. The same statesman who recently posted a video calling our county mayor “full of sh*t.” |Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy defends record, refutes Sen. Brent Taylor’s allegations| via The Tennessean
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who also attended the Monday night meeting, seemed to concur with [Mayor] Young’s sentiments, maintaining that while he receives regular reports from the task force, he thinks most immigration-related arrests by the task force are not stemming from criminal activity.|Memphis Mayor Says Police Cooperation With ICE Meant To Steer Federal Agencies Away From Deportations| via The Tennessee Conservative
A judge handed down prison sentences for two people involved in the beating of a teenager last year at a restaurant in Cordova, according to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. The DA's office said Darius Brantley pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in prison, and Kaitlin Brantley also received three years in prison for aggravated assault, plus a consecutive sentence for a separate McDonald's assault while on probation |Pair sentenced for violent beating that left teen Cheddar's host unconscious, DA's office says| via FOX13
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