A Jackson man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after falsely claiming drugs, cash, and a firearm seized during a 2023 traffic stop, prosecutors said.

Madison and Rankin Counties District Attorney John K. “Bubba” Bramlett announced Thursday that Demarques Smith, 30, pleaded guilty in the Madison County Circuit Court to one count of hindering prosecution. Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Smith to serve the full term in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

The case began Oct. 29, 2023, when Ridgeland police pulled over a vehicle for a tint violation and reported smelling marijuana. Officers said they found multiple drugs, cash, and a gun inside the car, leading to the arrest of the driver, Damien Mason, and his passenger.

Two days later, authorities said Smith appe

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