Skip to content
Home
>
News
>
Rankin County settles with victims of...

Rankin County settles with victims of ‘Goon Squad’

By: Frank Corder - May 2, 2025

  • U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan dismissed the initial $400 million lawsuit on Wednesday after the $2.5 million settlement was reached.

According to the attorney for the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, a $2.5 million settlement has been reached in the lawsuit against Rankin County and Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey in what has become known as the “Goon Squad” case.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan dismissed the initial $400 million lawsuit on Wednesday after the settlement was reached.

The civil lawsuit was brought by Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in June 2023 against the department after it was revealed that the two men were beat and tortured by five members of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and one Richland Police officer.

All have pleaded guilty to numerous civil rights violations and were sentenced to decades in prison on federal and state charges.

A warrantless raid commenced in early 2023 when the officers entered the Braxton home and handcuffed the two men, tortured them, and threatened to sodomize at least one of the men with a sex toy. Jenkins was shot through the jaw and neck after one of the officers shoved his weapon into the man’s mouth.

READ MORE: The ‘Goon Squad’ torture of Eddie Parker & Michael Jenkins cries out for uncomfortable reckoning

The settlement announced on Thursday means Rankin County will pay $500,000 for the resolution while the county’s insurance will pay the remaining $2 million.

Attorney Jason Dare said in a statement that the Rankin County Sheriff’s budget will not increase and “the citizens of Rankin County are not going to be impacted by the settlement of this case.”

Dare noted that the settlement is not an admission of guilt on the part of the county or the Sheriff’s Department.

About the Author(s)
author profile image

Frank Corder

For nearly two decades, Frank Corder has reported and offered analysis on government, public policy, elections, business and matters of faith. He is the Editor for Magnolia Tribune where he oversees the day-to-day content development. Frank’s interviews, articles, and columns have been syndicated throughout Mississippi as well as in various national publications. His resume includes appearances on the BBC, CBS News, ABC News, and Fox News, among others. Frank is a frequent analyst on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State and beyond. During his career, Frank has interviewed government officials and candidates from City Halls to the White House, including Presidential candidates, White House officials, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries, and Governors. He previously hosted his own local radio and television programs and has managed private businesses in the financial, hospitality, and retail sectors. Frank has served his community as an elected City Councilman and as an Assistant/Acting City Manager. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he led the effort to plan Pascagoula's recovery and rebuilding which earned him recognition as Mississippi's Volunteer of the Year. Frank also led Pascagoula's municipal government out of a $14.5 million deficit, which the Mississippi State Auditor heralded as a model for other communities facing dire financial straits. As the president of the Pascagoula High School Quarterback Club, Frank has self-published "The Book of Pascagoula Football." He has been married for over 25 years and has two children, both of whom work in public education. Email Frank: frank@magnoliatribune.com