Editors' Note: This story is part of our "2016 Year In Review." It was originally published in Feb. 2016.
ATLANTA -- Federal authorities announced charges against dozens of current or former Georgia corrections officers accused of using their badges to protect drug dealers on Thursday.
In all, 49 individuals were arrested, including 45 current or former Ga. corrections officers. They were scheduled to appear before a judge on Thursday.
The corrections officers are accused of a variety of charges, from smuggling contraband into Georgia prisons to accepting bribes in exchange for protecting drug deals that occurred outside of the facilities, federal officials said.
The facilities involved in Thursday's indictments include:
- Hancock State Prison (Sparta, Ga.)
- Riverbend Correctional Facility (Sparta, Ga.)
- Pulaski State Prison (Hawskinsville, Ga.)
- Baldwin State Prison (Milledgeville, Ga.)
- Dooley State Prison (Unadila, Ga.)
- Phillips State Prison (Buford. Ga.)
- Dodge State Prison (Chester, Ga.)
- Autry State Prison (Unadila, Ga.)
- Macon State Prison (Oglethorpe, Ga.)
Additional, five members of the DOC Tactical Team, which are trained in riot and crowd control, firearms, chemical munitions, and other non-lethal munitions, were charged and arrested.
"It is truly troubling that so many corrections officers from across the state of Georgia could be so willing to sell their oath, sell their badges for personal profit to benefit and protect purported drug transactions -- drug dealers," said John Horn, United States Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia. "They not only betrayed the institutions that they were sworn to protect, but they betrayed the trust and faith of thousands of honest corrections officers who upload the values of their jobs every day."
Corrections officers arrested for working with drug traffickers
In many of the indictments, the correctional officers thought they were providing protection to drug-traffickers. In exchange for thousands of dollars, the officers agreed to wear their DOC uniforms and accompany a purported drug trafficker while he delivered narcotics. In some cases, the officers agreed to transport the drugs themselves. The correctional officers believed if they were stopped, their vehicles would not be searched due to their law enforcement connection.
At Autry State Prison, Corrections officers allegedly helped inmates commit fraud by contacting victims and tricking them into electronically transferring money to pay for a fine for failing to appear for jury duty.
Officers in several prisons also worked to smuggle contraband, including tobacco, alcohol and cell phones, to inmates. Many of those contraband cell phones were then used by inmates to commit wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft and drug trafficking. One defendant allegedly made $2,145 through those bribes.
Thursday's announcement was the fourth in a series of operations into corruption at Georgia corrections institutions after an investigation that began two years ago. The initial investigation was into contraband at one facility, but authorities said that leads quickly led to more more leads, and spread across 11 institutions in the state. Since then, 130 people have been indicted and arrested. All told, 63 out of some 5,200 guards have been charged.
Corrections Commissioner Homer Bryson admitted some of the guards were likely not properly screened when hired.
"The honest answer is we're not able to do thorough enough background checks because we have to hire people at such low salaries that its difficult to fill those vacancies," Bryson said.
In 2014 and 2015, DOC seized more than 23,500 phones from inside Georgia state prisons. Many possessed internet capabilities, and had been smuggled into the prisons by guards or other employees.
Those indicted Thursday were:
1. Ashley Jenee Barnes, 21, of Sparta, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
2. Selena Black, 22, of Oglethorpe, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
3. Michael Bostic, 32, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Phillips State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to smuggle contraband into a prison, with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions, and with attempted drug trafficking.
4. William Dale Bragg, 25, of Warner Robins, Georgia, a GA DOC inmate, has been charged with conspiring to commit money laundering.
5. Crystal Sasha Brooks, 22, of Tennille, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Hancock State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to smuggle contraband into a prison, with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions, and with attempted drug trafficking.
6. Jessica Brown, 30, of Milledgeville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Baldwin State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
7. Christopher Clayton, 28, of Americus, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
8. Chasity Coleman, 22, of Cordele, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
9. Patrick Coleman, 43, of Tucker, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Phillips State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to smuggle contraband into a prison, with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions, and with attempted drug trafficking.
10. Angela Dinkins, 25, of Morrow, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
11. Quardarrius Duhart, 29, of Tennille, Georgia, has been charged with attempted drug trafficking.
12. Travonne Ferrell, 22, of Milledgeville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer on the GA DOC tactical unit or COBRA Squad, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with drug trafficking.
13. Benjamin Floyd, 23, of Hawkinsville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison and a jailor at Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
14. Dantavis Fluellen, 26, of Milledgeville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer on the COBRA Squad, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
15. Jeremy Fluellen, 26, of Sparta, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Hancock State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
16. Tacowan Fluellen, 24, of Milledgeville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer on the COBRA Squad, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
17. Justin Gennings, 29, of Port Royal, South Carolina, formerly a Correctional Officer at Phillips State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to smuggle contraband into a prison.
18. Charisma Glenn, 22, of Milledgeville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
19. Jaleel Green, 23, of Oglethorpe, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
20. Kenny Grover, 28, of Fort Valley, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison prior to his arrest, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
21. Kierria Harvey, 23, of Milledgeville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
22. Cortavius Henderson, 23, of Cordele, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
23. Pierre Hill, 33, of Warrenton, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Hancock State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
24. Joshua Johnson, 20, of Kingsland, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
25. Marvin Johnson, 33, of Rochelle, Georgia, has been charged with attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
26. Tamika Johnson, 34, of Forsyth, Georgia, a Correctional Officer on the COBRA Squad, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
27. Winfred Johnson, 25, of Sandersville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
28. Ethan Kilgore, 24, of Dublin, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Dodge State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
29. Kewanda Love, 26, of Cochran, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Pulaski State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
30. Chelsey Mayweather, 24, of Milledgeville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Baldwin State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
31. Tiawanna McDonald, 24, of Centerville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
32. Jarratt Ken Melvin, 23, of Thomaston, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Pulaski State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
33. Phoenicia Minor, 30, of Bonaire, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Pulaski State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
34. Shameka Mobley, 27, of Warner Robins, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Pulaski State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
35. Brandon Mullino, 34, of Hawkinsville, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
36. Trevon Newsome, 22, of Warner Robins, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
37. Angelique Pate, 25, of Montezuma, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
38. Ebony Scott, 26, of Tennille, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
39. Anthony Shoffner, 23, of Kathleen, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Macon State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
40. Sarne Sylvester, 28, of Albany, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Autry State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to smuggle contraband into a prison.
41. Tavia Trammer, 34, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Phillips State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
42. Tramaine Tucker, 27, of Milledgeville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
43. Brandon Watkins, 24, of Warner Robins, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
44. James Julius Watkins, Jr., 26, of Sparta, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Hancock State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
45. Alice Whitfield, 24, of Unadilla, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
46. Branden Wiley, 24, of Cordele, Georgia, a Correctional Officer at Dooly State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
47. Christopher Tate Williams, 25, of Sparta, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Hancock State Prison, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
48. Tonia Williams, 25, of Warner Robins, Georgia, a Correctional Officer on the COBRA Squad, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
49. Keyerra Winkfield, 24, of Milledgeville, Georgia, formerly a Correctional Officer at Riverbend Correctional Facility, has been charged with accepting bribe payments to protect drug transactions and with attempted drug trafficking.
Last month, 51 people were charged in connection with a massive corruption investigation into Jimmy Autry State Prison in Pelham, Ga. Of the 51 charged, 15 were current or former corrections officers at Autry State Prison.
PHOTOS | 15 corrections officers charged
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