Sikeston man arrested for "Mississippi Mafia" threats

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man is facing a felony charge after deputies say he threatened to commit acts of violence against former officeholders in Mississippi County. Gregory Alan Kimble, 59, is charged with one count of felony harassment. Due to previous convictions, Kimble is charged as a prior offender, a class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Kimble was released from jail Tuesday evening after posting a $25,000 surety bond.

According to Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore, the investigation began on Monday, when an East Prairie business contacted the Department to report a threatening phone call.

According to the deputy's report, the anonymous caller stated that he was calling on behalf of the mafia to warn the business owner there was a "hit" out on him that would be carried out before Christmas.

During the investigation conducted by Chief Deputy Charlie Marcum and Deputy Cory Hutcheson, the caller's cellphone number was obtained from the business' landline phone service provider.

That information was then used to identify the suspect as Kimble, who lives New Madrid County. Hutcheson then contacted the New Madrid County Sheriffs Department to request their assistance taking Kimble into custody.

A short time later, Kimble was placed under arrest by a New Madrid County deputy, and then turned over to Mississippi County deputies for extradition back to Mississippi County.

While in transit to the Mississippi County Detention Center, Kimble allegedly told Hutcheson the "Mississippi Mafia" was going to carry out a hit on him, too.

When interviewed, Kimble initially denied placing the call, but revised his statement when presented with call records. Kimble then insisted he hadn't made any threats.

"Mr. Kimble made the same threat to me as he did the victim," said Hutcheson, "so it's hard for him to argue he didn't say that."

It was determined through the course of the investigation that Kimble was upset about an action taken by the Mississippi County Commission over 20 years ago, involving a land transaction which Kimble conceded had no effect on him.

"My department takes death threats seriously and that is reflected in the way my deputies handled this investigation," said Moore.