DALLAS — A woman linked to the investigation into the kidnapping and death of a Lancaster teen has been sentenced on federal gun charges.
LaPorshya Polley, 27, is sentenced to four years in prison for making false statements to a gun dealer in order to acquire two weapons for a convicted felon. Polley is among a group of suspects linked to the June 2017 kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Shavon Randle.
”I’m going to show up every time,” said Randle’s mom Shaquna Persley as she walked into the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas for Polley’s sentencing hearing. Polley was the first suspect to be sentenced. It was the first time Persley saw the woman face-to-face.
”I’m her voice,” Persley said as she thought about her daughter Shavon. “I’m her momma. I’m going to always be her voice. “
Randle was kidnapped from a relative’s home and held for ransom in a scheme involving drugs, robbery, and money, according to investigators. Investigators say Polley lied to a gun dealer in order to get weapons for Darius Fieleds, another suspect in the teen’s disappearance and death.
After the sentencing, Persley said, "The man that you’re supposed to be with, chose to take my child away from me. You know it’s crazy for her to sit back and think we are supposed to take pity on her, because she has a child out here that can’t see her every day. I have a child that I’m never going to see again.”
Investigators say Polley was looking over marijuana when someone came to steal it. They say that triggered a domino effect of crimes.
Polley has a five-year-old son. In court, she acted as her own attorney. During the hearing, she talked about a history of abusive boyfriends, being neglected by her own mom, and being introduced to drugs at an early age.
At one point Polley said, “I first want to apologize to you judge, my family, and my son for the shame and embarrassment I’ve caused.”
There were no direct words to Randle’s family.
”She apologized for her actions, but not to me. Not to my situation. Not for what I’m going through. She’s apologizing for selling drugs. For choosing the wrong men," Persley explained.
The past year and a half has been tough for Randle’s family. “She was a good person,” said her sister, Shiniece Richards.
The family expects it will only get tougher as they prepare to see more of the suspects in court.