Memphis man sentenced to 18 years for theft from elderly residents

HERNANDO, Miss. — A Memphis man who stole jewelry from elderly residents at an Olive Branch senior living facility has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday, Jan. 9.

Allen Williams, 65, was convicted of exploiting residents at Silvercreek Senior Living Community, where he worked as a custodian. Prosecutors said Williams used his access inside the facility to steal wedding rings and other sentimental jewelry from more than a dozen elderly residents. Some of the stolen items were later pawned in Memphis, while others were never recovered.

District Attorney Matthew Barton said the case represented a particularly troubling breach of trust.

“This crime targeted elderly residents when they were at the most vulnerable point in their lives,” Barton said. “That kind of conduct is as cowardly as it gets, and it will not be tolerated in DeSoto County.”

Williams received an 18‑year sentence to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He will also serve 13 years of post‑release supervision, including five years of reporting supervision.

Barton credited the Olive Branch Police Department for building what he called a “bulletproof case.”

“Convictions are built on great police work, and this case is an example of that,” Barton said. “Olive Branch detectives were tough, thorough, and relentless. They followed the facts, checked every box, and handed our prosecutors a bulletproof case. That’s the kind of policing that keeps our communities safe.”

Assistant District Attorney Rosharwin Williams prosecuted the case, which officials said brought long‑overdue accountability for crimes committed against some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.