Tonarri Moore, who was recruited by the FBI to work as an informant and collect evidence against Marshand Crisler, testified for over an hour Thursday about offering the former interim Hinds County sheriff $9,500 in bribes between September and November 2021, during Crisler’s sheriff campaign.
Moore began cooperating with the federal government following a September 2021 Drug Enforcement Agency raid on his home. Moore testified that nobody asked him about targeting Crisler and he told an agent he was not bribing him. Then he was asked whether Crisler would accept a bribe.
“Let’s see,” Moore said about working with the FBI to see what Crisler would offer in exchange for money.
The government argues Crisler made promises to tell Moore about any criminal investigations involving him, to move a member of his family to a safer place in the county jail, to give Moore a job with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department and to allow him to possess a firearm despite a felony conviction.
The jury heard recordings of meetings where those alleged promises were made, and Moore was asked to recall them.
Crisler has pleaded not guilty to a bribery charge and a charge for giving ammunition to Moore, who is unable to possess it as a convicted felon under federal law.
On Thursday, Moore was brought to court from the Madison County jail in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He is being held on a state charge of conspiracy to commit murder relating to the May death of a Jackson man. The recordings were made before Moore was detained.
In previous court records Moore was referred to as “Confidential Human Source 1.” The government revealed his identity Wednesday during the first day of trial.
During cross examination, Crisler’s attorney, John Colette, asked Moore about his previous convictions, how he began to cooperate with the FBI and a plea deal he entered into with the U.S. Attorney’s Office this year in exchange for his testimony.
Late Thursday morning, without the jury present, Colette was allowed to cross-examine Moore about his previous convictions and how he began to cooperate with the FBI to investigate his client.
Colette asked Moore about other bribes he’s allegedly made to Jackson and Hinds County officials. He admitted a $100,000 bribe to someone in the district attorney’s office. But he invoked his Fifth Amendment right or said he did not recall when asked about bribes to people in city government and Jackson police officers.
Moore confirmed during questioning by Colette that he is expected to testify against Torrence Mayfield, a former Jackson police officer and 2021 sheriff’s candidate, as part of his plea deal with the federal government. Mayfield faces federal charges for trying to sell a firearm to Moore, despite his felony conviction.
Earlier in the day, the government finished questioning Daniel Ratliff, a former FBI task force officer involved with the Crisler investigation who recruited Moore as an informant.
The jury also heard briefly from other witnesses.
FBI supervisory special agent Jamaal King testified about working with a unit whose work includes interception of phone calls. Hinds County Undersheriff Garrett Taylor testified about the office’s hiring practices and the ability to move people at the jail. Kyle Kirkpatrick, of the Secretary of State’s Office, testified about campaign finance and reporting amounts, such as the $9,500.
Trial is expected to last one more day with closing arguments before the case is handed over to the jury for deliberation.
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