In a landmark case that underscores the severity of hate crimes against transgender individuals, Joshua Brandon Vallum, 29, of Lucedale, Mississippi, has been sentenced to 49 years in federal prison. The sentencing, handed down in the Southern District of Mississippi, is for the assault and murder of Mercedes Williamson, a transgender woman. This significant legal action was announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, alongside Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler, Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze.
Vallum’s guilty plea on December 21, 2016, admitted to a violation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This case marks a crucial milestone as the first prosecution under this act involving a victim targeted due to gender identity, highlighting the importance of recognizing and prosecuting crimes against transgender individuals as hate crimes.
The details revealed during Vallum’s plea hearing painted a grim picture of the events leading to the tragic death of Mercedes Williamson. Vallum confessed to having a consensual sexual relationship with Williamson, fully aware of her transgender status. However, this relationship was shrouded in secrecy. Vallum deliberately hid the intimate nature of their connection and Mercedes Williamson’s transgender identity from his family, friends, and fellow members of the Latin Kings and Queens Nation gang. Following the termination of their romantic involvement, contact ceased until May 2015, when the horrific events unfolded.
On May 28, 2015, Vallum made a calculated decision to murder Mercedes Williamson. This decision was triggered by the revelation that a friend had discovered Williamson was transgender. Fearful of the repercussions within the Latin Kings gang if his relationship with a transgender woman became known, Vallum acted with brutal intent. The next day, May 29, 2015, Vallum located Mercedes Williamson at her Alabama residence. Using deceit, he lured her into his car under false pretenses, driving her across state lines to his father’s home in Lucedale, Mississippi. There, in a chilling sequence of violence, Vallum used a stun gun to shock Mercedes Williamson, before repeatedly stabbing her and finally delivering fatal blows with a hammer.
In the aftermath of the murder of Mercedes Williamson, Vallum engaged in efforts to conceal his crime. He attempted to dispose of the weapons used and other evidence that could link him to the heinous act. Initially, Vallum fabricated a story for law enforcement, claiming he killed Williamson in a panic upon discovering she was transgender. However, his guilty plea exposed this lie. Vallum admitted the truth: he would not have murdered Mercedes Williamson if she were not transgender, directly acknowledging the hate-motivated nature of his crime.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions emphasized the significance of the sentencing, stating, “Today’s sentencing reflects the importance of holding individuals accountable when they commit violent acts against transgender individuals. The Justice Department will continue its efforts to vindicate the rights of those individuals who are affected by bias motivated crimes.”
Special Agent in Charge Freeze further commented on the broader impact of hate crimes, “Crimes motivated by hate have devastating effects on the victims, their families and community, but also leave a blemish on our society as a whole. The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and we will continue to pursue that mission in Mississippi. The outcome of this case would not have been possible without the partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement.”
This successful prosecution was the result of collaborative work between the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, and the Office of the District Attorney for Mississippi’s 19th Judicial District. The investigation was carried out by the FBI Jackson Division’s Pascagoula Safe Streets Task Force and the George County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution team included Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer, Special Litigation Counsel Sheldon Beer, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden. This case stands as a testament to the commitment of law enforcement and the justice system to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute hate crimes to the fullest extent of the law, ensuring that justice is served for victims like Mercedes Williamson and sending a clear message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated.
