( CNN ) Three defendants have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the hate crime death of a black man in Mississippi who died after being beaten by a group of white teens and run over by a truck in 2011 , U.S. authorities said . Deryl Paul Dedmon , now 22 , was sentenced to 50 years in prison ; John Aaron Rice , 21 , to more than 18 years ; and Dylan Wade Butler , 23 , to seven years , federal authorities said this week . Each defendant had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr . Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the death of James Craig Anderson , 48 , authorities said . `` The defendants targeted African-American people they perceived as vulnerable for heinous and violent assaults -- hate crimes , motivated solely by race , that shook an entire community and claimed the life of an innocent man , '' Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement . Seven other defendants are awaiting sentencing , authorities said . The three defendants admitted they and others conspired to harass African-Americans with beer bottles , sling shots and vehicles in attempt to injure them , authorities said . The defendants targeted blacks who were homeless or drunk `` because they believe that such individuals were less likely to report an assault , '' authorities said in a statement . `` The co-conspirators would often boast about these racially motivated assaults . '' After a birthday party for a mutual friend , the defendants and other conspirators agreed to assault blacks , authorities said . Rice , Butler and other occupants in a Jeep found Anderson in a motel parking lot about 5 a.m. on June 25 , 2011 , in Jackson and `` decided that Anderson would be a good target for an assault because he was African-American and appeared to be intoxicated , '' authorities said in a statement . Rice and a conspirator distracted Anderson while they waited for Dedmon to arrive . Dedmon and two conspirators arrived in Dedmon 's Ford F250 truck . Rice first punched Anderson in the face to knock him to the ground , and then Dedmon punched Anderson in the face several times while he was on the ground , authorities said . As the defendants and conspirators left the lot , one shouted , `` White Power ! '' Just before getting back into his truck , Dedmon also yelled , `` White Power ! '' Dedmon then `` deliberately '' ran over Anderson , causing injuries that killed him , authorities said . Rice , Butler and a number of the conspirators then gave false statements to police about the incident , authorities said . Anderson 's death drew national attention after CNN first reported it and aired exclusive surveillance video of the killing , captured by a parking lot security camera in a Jackson suburb . Watch : Incident caught on video . The killing prompted several large marches and prayer vigils in Jackson , a city of about 175,000 . Authorities believe Dedmon led and instigated the attack , which took place after a night of drinking in largely white Rankin County , outside Jackson . The gang of teens climbed into Dedmon 's green truck and a white SUV and drove 16 miles to the western edge of Jackson . They would have seen Anderson immediately as they exited the highway , officials said . He was standing in the hotel parking lot just beyond the exit ramp . On the videotape obtained exclusively by CNN , the group of teens is seen pulling into the parking lot and stopping where Anderson is standing , although he is just off camera and not visible . The teens can then be seen going back and forth between their cars and Anderson . Witnesses told authorities this is when Anderson 's beating took place , as the teens yelled racial epithets , including `` white power . '' Authorities allege Dedmon and many of the other teens pummeled Anderson repeatedly as he crumpled to the ground , although this is not visible on the tape . After the beating , some of the teens left and others got into the green Ford truck . At this moment , Anderson becomes visible on the tape as he staggers into view and walks toward the truck . Shortly afterward , Dedmon allegedly boasted and laughed about the killing , according to statements some of the teens made to detectives . `` I ran that n -- -- - over , '' he allegedly said in a phone conversation to the teens in the other car . Drew Griffin and Scott Bronstein of CNN 's Special Investigations Unit contributed to this report .
# ##l Dedmon , 22 , is sentenced to 50 years . and Craig Anderson , 48 , who is black , was beaten by a group of white men . Other defendants are sentenced to more than five years and ten years .