FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1997                        (202) 305-3327
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
FOUR GEORGIA MEN INDICTED FOR BURNING THE HOME OF A BLACK COUPLE
                                
     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Four Georgia men were arrested today on
civil rights charges for conspiring to set fire to a trailer home
belonging to a black couple, the Justice Department announced.

     The three-count indictment, handed down in U.S. District
Court in Savannah late yesterday, charges Razell Spires, 55, Joey
Spires, 19, Mac Nathaniel Rainey, 20, and Tommy James Hulett, 20,
with violating federal criminal civil rights laws.  The four
allegedly conspired to burn a trailer home in order to frighten
away the owners, Carrie McRae and Oscar Lee Riley, a black couple
that resided there.  The trailer was located in Telfair County,
Georgia, about 100 miles southeast of Macon.

     "These indictments underscore our commitment to vigorously
prosecuting these types of crimes," said Isabelle Katz Pinzler,
Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. 

     According to the indictment, in April, Razell Spires, in the
presence of the three other defendants, offered to pay $500 to
anyone who would burn the trailer home.  Spires indicated that
the reason he wanted the trailer burned was to scare away the
black residents.

     The three remaining defendants, Joey Spires, Mac Rainey, and
Tommy Hulett then walked to the couple's trailer and set it
afire.  No one was harmed in the incident.  The following day the
three allegedly discussed ways to conceal their involvement in
the crime.

     Count one of the indictment charged the four defendants with
conspiring to violate the civil rights of the black couple. 
Count two charged the four with interfering with the couple's
right to live in their dwelling free from violence and
intimidation.  Count three of the indictment charged the four
with using fire in the commission of a felony.

     Counts one and two each carry a penalty of up to 10 years in
prison and a $250,00 fine.  Count three carries an additional
five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

     The charges are merely an accusation and defendants are
presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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97-056