The Lauderdale County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Choctaw County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office has conducted an eight month investigation which has culminated into multiple federal indictments. On September 13, 2017, a residence in Lauderdale County, Mississippi was burglarized resulting in the theft of five guns and jewelry.
The investigation revealed that the stolen firearms were taken into Alabama and sold to a licensed dealer. The investigation also revealed that both suspects were convicted felons.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation joined into this case. The U.S. Attorneys Office presented the case to a grand jury in the Southern Distirct of Alabama in Mobile. Johnfanan “John Boy” Ruffin, a resident of Choctaw County, Alabama, was indicted for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Tommie Ruffin, a resident of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, was also indicted for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and for Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Johnfanan “John Boy” Ruffin was arrested on March 6, 2018, on multiple drug charges in Choctaw County and was currently being housed in the Choctaw County Jail on those charges. He was transferred to federal custody on May 7, 2018.
Tommie Ruffin was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections on May 9, 2018, where he will be transferred into federal custody.
Sheriff Scott Lolley would like to thank the Lauderdale County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama. This is a prime example of cooperation not only across the state lines, but also within multiple levels of government.
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Choctaw County Sheriff
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