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Former Fulton County jail officer facing charges for allegedly taking bribes from inmates, including YSL defendant

Karmen Bailey, 31, is facing multiple charges, including violating oath of office, bribery, and delivering banned items to inmates.
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Karmen Bailey

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A former Fulton County detention officer has been arrested for allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in bribes to smuggle contraband, including pills, to inmates at the jail. One of the inmates involved is Marquavius Huey, one of six defendants in the ongoing YSL RICO case involving rapper Young Thug.

Karmen Bailey, 31, was arrested on Oct. 4 and is facing multiple charges, including four counts of violating her oath of office, two counts of bribery, and two counts of delivering banned items to inmates. Authorities believe Bailey took payments from inmates’ families in exchange for smuggling drugs and other illegal items into the jail, according to an arrest affidavit. 

Documents show that Bailey’s actions came to light in May when jail officials began receiving reports of her involvement in smuggling contraband to several inmates. In August, Bailey consented to a search of her phone, and investigators found evidence of over 20 financial transactions totaling $17,000, which came from inmates’ family members and associates and were used to deliver prohibited items to the jail.

Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Karmen Bailey

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An investigation revealed that Bailey received payments from two of Huey’s family members, his mother and sister. 

Court documents show that on May 6, Bailey accepted $500 through Apple Pay from Huey’s mother, Malissa Huey. In July, she also allegedly received $1,000 from Huey’s sister, Jermiyah Huey. In return, Bailey allowed Huey to move to restricted areas of the jail where he could sell drugs to other inmates. 

Surveillance video from July 13 allegedly shows Bailey escorting Huey and another unidentified inmate into a restricted area where they delivered two packages, which authorities suspect contained drugs and cell phones. The packages were reportedly given to two other inmates. 

"Ms. Bailey failed to perform the official action of seizing contraband (e.g., substance appearing to be white pills) from inmate Huey and afforded said inmate the ability to temporarily reside within a restricted area where she assisted other inmates in the procurement of contraband," an investigator said in the affidavit. 

Both Huey's mother and sister have also been arrested on bribery charges, according to jail records. 

Authorities said in another instance, Bailey used a white styrofoam meal tray to hide contraband in it and then delivered it to another inmate's cell, according to surveillance video reviewed by investigators.

The sheriff's office confirmed that Marquavius Huey and one other inmate were charged with one count of items prohibited for possession.

Deputies said Bailey worked at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office from September 2023 until August 27, 2024, when she resigned. 

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