Three individuals pled guilty Friday to their roles in a murder on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Reservation, according to court documents.
In September 2023, Michael Jeffrey Shaffer, 48, and Montero Ray Willis, 22, used a firearm to shoot and kill a tribal member in the Pearl River Community. Deyonkia Alice Willis, 30, acted as an accessory after the fact to the murder. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in November of the same year.
Following Friday’s plea hearing, in which all three admitted guilt, sentencing dates are set to be set in the near future. Shaffer and Willis both face up to life in prison for second-degree murder, while Willis faces up to 15 years for aiding the two in the aftermath of the killing. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.