Second Hinds County sheriff candidate faces federal jail time

Another former Hinds County sheriff candidate is guilty of lying to a pawn shop dealer when he bought a firearm, saying it was for him rather than a convicted felon. 

Torrence Mayfield, 53, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one charge of making a false statement to a firearm dealer, according to federal court documents. He was set to go to trial. 

On Oct. 26, 2021, Mayfield bought the firearm from the shop, which is a federal firearms licensee. He had to complete a written form to make the purchase, and on it he noted the firearm was for him. 

His sentencing is scheduled for March 4, 2025. Mayfield faces up to 10 years for the charge and a $250,000 fine. 

Mayfield is a former Jackson police officer and chief of the Edwards Police Department. 

He originally faced four counts. The additional charges were two counts of selling ammunition to a convicted felon and one count of selling a firearm to a convicted felon, according to a 2023 superseding indictment. 

It is against federal law for a felon to possess a firearm or ammunition. 

In 2021, Mayfield was one of 13 candidates for Hinds County sheriff, a position that opened up after the death of former sheriff Lee Vance. Mayfield received less than 1% of the vote. 

Former Interim Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler (left) enters the federal courthouse with his attorney John Collette, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Another candidate in that race, Marshand Crisler, was found guilty weeks ago of soliciting and accepting a bribe and giving ammunition to a convicted felon during his 2021 campaign.  

Prosecutors revealed during trial that the convicted felon is Tonarri Moore, who worked as an FBI informant and recorded in-person meetings and conversations with Crisler.

During cross examination, Moore was questioned if the FBI asked him to wear a wire and talk with a policeman about a firearm. Moore invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and did not answer. 

Crisler’s attorney clarified that he was asking about Mayfield and asked if Moore still wanted to plead the fifth, to which Moore replied no. When asked, Moore said he talked with Mayfield about some bullets and that he planned to testify against him. 

Mayfield’s name also came up during some of the recorded conversations between Moore and Crisler, some of which were played during Crisler’s trial. 

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