Mississippi man serving an illegal sentence granted clemency, weeks after his brother
December 31, 2025
Two brothers who received illegal prison sentences that were years longer than the maximum penalty for their crimes have been granted clemency by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. Reeves announced he was granting Maurice Taylor clemency on Wednesday. Maurice Taylor’s brother, Marcus Taylor, received clemency earlier this month. In February 2015, both brothers accepted plea bargains and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell a Schedule III substance. Maurice Taylor was sentenced to 20 years in prison with five years suspended, and Marcus Taylor to 15 years. At the time of their sentencing, the maximum penalty for conspiracy to sell a Schedule III substance was five years.