July 3, 2025 – A federal jury convicted a Memphis man on Tuesday for interstate kidnapping, interstate domestic violence, and interstate stalking. Senior U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson presided over the trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Omar Charleston, 39, of Memphis traveled to Southaven to find the victim, his former partner, who was staying at a Southaven hotel.
Charleston found the victim in the lobby of the hotel and forced her into her car by hitting her, pushing her, and threatening her. He then forced her to drive her car from Southaven to Memphis, where he was arrested after struggling with law enforcement.
“This office has made a commitment to prosecuting those who abuse their power to harm those that are powerless,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The jury has spoken, and it will not tolerate the type of harm and abuse that the victim suffered at the hands of the defendant.”
“Mr. Charleston’ s victim endured unimaginable trauma that will remain with her forever. Charleston violently took the victim from a place of safety against her will, demonstrating a complete disregard for human life and the law,” stated SAC of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to ensure violent offenders who are a threat to the community, such as Charleston, are held accountable for such horrific crimes and brought to justice. The FBI applauds the Memphis Police Department and the Southaven Police Department for their collaboration on this matter.”
Charleston’s sentencing is set for Oct. 27 in Oxford before Senior U.S. District Judge Davidson. Charleston faces up to life imprisonment for the federal kidnapping charge.
The FBI, in partnership with the Southaven Police Department, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Levy and Robert Mims prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Mississippi news release
