Gang Member Sentenced to Life Plus 410 Years for Dublin Double Murder

Jaswain Martwain Bell has received a monumental sentence of two life prison terms plus an additional 410 years in the Superior Court of Laurens County for his role in the brutal murders of 24-year-old Sacred Brown and 23-year-old Miyori Ellington in Dublin, Georgia. The sentencing, announced by Attorney General Chris Carr, underscores the state’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting violent gang-related crimes.

The horrific incident occurred on March 31, 2024, when Bell, along with his co-defendant Quintez Mercer, indiscriminately opened fire on a group of individuals in a residential area of Dublin. Their actions resulted in the tragic deaths of Brown and Ellington and left five other people wounded. The investigation revealed that Bell and Mercer are members of a dangerous hybrid criminal street gang known as Money Power Loyalty, or MPL. The intended target of their deadly assault was reportedly a rival gang member.

Following a rigorous 12-day trial, the Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit successfully secured convictions against both Bell and Mercer on April 8, 2025. Mercer was immediately handed the same severe sentence of two life terms plus 410 years. Bell’s sentencing took place on April 21, 2025, solidifying the consequences for their violent actions.

The MPL gang, a hybrid criminal street gang with its origins in Laurens County, exhibits affiliations with traditional west coast Blood sets, specifically the 1831 Pirus and the Rollin’ 20s Neighborhood Bloods. The conviction of Bell and Mercer represents a significant victory for law enforcement in their efforts to dismantle this dangerous organization. To date, Attorney General Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit has also successfully prosecuted 11 other MPL associates, including the gang’s founder and three key leaders, demonstrating a sustained effort to eradicate the gang’s influence.

Attorney General Carr expressed his satisfaction with the sentence, stating, “We’re grateful to the Court for handing down the maximum sentence in this case. It sends the message that if you are engaged in violent gang activity in this state, we are coming for you. We have taken several steps to dismantle the MPL gang in Dublin, and we will continue to work with our partners to rid this great community of violent crime.”

The prosecution of this complex case was led by Assistant Attorneys General Ashton Jordan and Lee M. Stoy, Jr., from the Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Dublin Police Department, highlighting the importance of multi-agency cooperation in tackling gang-related violence.

GBI Director Chris Hosey affirmed the agency’s commitment, stating, “The GBI’s Regional Drug Enforcement Offices and our Regional Gang Task Forces from around the state are committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold violent criminals that are active in gangs accountable. This conviction serves as a reminder that we will relentlessly pursue justice for the victims and their families, and we will continue to dismantle the dangerous influence of criminal street gangs in Georgia.”

Dublin Police Chief Keith Moon conveyed his gratitude for the strong partnerships and tireless work of the various law enforcement agencies that made the convictions possible. He emphasized the dedication of law enforcement in their community and the extreme risks they undertake to ensure public safety. Chief Moon also thanked the Attorney General’s Office and the Dublin District Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts in the successful prosecution, underscoring the coordinated and continued effort of the entire justice system in the area. He expressed hope that the sentences would bring some measure of peace and justice to the loved ones of Miyori Ellington and Sacred Brown.

The extensive list of charges for which Jaswain Bell was convicted underscores the severity and scope of his criminal actions:

2 counts of Malice Murder (the intentional killing of another person with malice aforethought)
4 counts of Felony Murder (death resulting from the commission of another felony crime)
8 counts of Aggravated Assault (assault with the intent to murder, rape, or rob, or with a deadly weapon)
5 counts of Aggravated Battery (intentionally causing substantial physical harm or visible bodily harm)
11 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act (committing crimes in association with a criminal street gang)
2 counts of Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree (intentionally damaging property valued over $500)
3 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
1 count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
1 count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon During a Crime