DERWIN BROWN KILLERS LOSE FEDERAL APPEAL
Melvin Walker and David Ramsey Unsuccessful in Effort to Overturn
Federal Convictions

Atlanta, GA - The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta has issued its decision affirming the convictions and life sentences of MELVIN WALKER, 42, of Lithonia, Georgia, and DAVID RAMSEY, 35, of St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, for the December 2000 murder of DeKalb County Sheriff-Elect Derwin Brown.

“WALKER and RAMSEY were convicted of being participants in one of the most horrific crimes ever committed in this district,” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. “We are pleased that the appellate court has affirmed their guilty verdicts and sentences. We are satisfied that these two defendants will remain accountable for their roles in the assassination of DeKalb County Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown.”

On August 3, 2005, WALKER and RAMSEY were convicted by a federal jury in Atlanta of conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder for hire charges arising from their participation with former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, former DeKalb County Deputy Sheriff Patrick Cuffy, and Paul Skyers in the assassination of Derwin Brown in his driveway as he returned home from celebrating his wife’s birthday. On November 21, 2005, WALKER and RAMSEY were sentenced by United States District Judge Jack T. Camp to life imprisonment without parole.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the DeKalb County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys William L. McKinnon, Jr. and Lawrence Sommerfeld along with Bobbi Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-meus), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

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