U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee | U.S. Department of Justice
A brother and sister from Clinton, Mississippi have been sentenced for their involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme. According to court documents and trial evidence, Joshua Druid Bryan, 29, and Regan Emily Bryan, 30, attempted to hire someone to kill their stepfather with the intention of obtaining life insurance money.
Regan Emily Bryan received a prison sentence of 65 months after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Her brother, Joshua Druid Bryan, was sentenced to 120 months following his conviction for both conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder for hire. His trial concluded on December 15, 2023.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF conducted the investigation.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Matthew Allen. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that collaborates with law enforcement at various levels and community groups to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. On May 26, 2021, the department introduced a strategy aimed at reducing violent crime under PSN's guiding principles: building community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
