Former Memphis officer Patric J. Ferguson was sentenced to 38 years after pleading guilty to civil-rights violations, kidnapping, using a firearm in a crime that caused death, conspiracy, and obstruction. Prosecutors say he used a police database to find Robert Howard, abducted him from a woman's home, shot him in a parking lot, and — with an accomplice — dumped the body in a river. The federal sentence underscores accountability for alleged abuses of police authority.
Ex-Memphis Officer Sentenced To 38 Years After Abducting And Killing Man Using Police Database
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Patric J. Ferguson, a former Memphis police officer, was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple federal offenses, including civil-rights violations, kidnapping, using a firearm in a violent crime that caused death, conspiracy, and obstruction.
Case Details
Prosecutors say that while on duty Ferguson used a police database to locate Robert Howard, who was dating a woman Ferguson had previously been involved with. Ferguson allegedly drove his marked patrol car to the woman's home, abducted Howard, and later shot him in a parking lot. According to authorities, Ferguson and an accomplice subsequently disposed of Howard's body in a river.
Federal Charges And Sentence
Ferguson pleaded guilty to the federal charges and received a 38-year prison sentence. Federal prosecutors emphasized that the case involved an abuse of police authority and that the charges — including civil-rights violations — reflect the seriousness of a law enforcement officer using his position and access to official resources to commit violent crimes.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about accountability when officers misuse law-enforcement tools and authority. The sentence represents a federal response to those abuses and underscores legal consequences for civil-rights violations by police officers.
