The United States Court of the Southern District of Georgia handed down more sentences in a major drug trafficking organization last week. One of them is a former prison guard.
Compromised corrections officers who breach prison security to provide contraband to inmates represent a significant danger not only to inmates and guards, but also to citizens outside prison walls who are within reach of unmonitored jail communications from smuggled cell phones. Ebony Smiley, aka “Baby Girl,” is rightfully being held accountable for violating her oath and endangering the community.
Operation Sandy Bottom identified and charged three Georgia state correctional officers who worked with gang members to smuggle contraband cell phones and illegal drugs to inmates affiliated with the conspiracy. Two of the guards were employed at the Coffee County Correctional Facility in Nicholls, Ga. Both have admitted to their roles and are waiting sentencing. The third guard made her appearance in court last week.
-Ebony Desiree Smiley, a/k/a “Baby Girl,” 25, of Vidalia, Ga., a former guard at Wheeler State Prison, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy. At the time of her arrest, Smiley was charged with:
- Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone (Bath Salts), and Alprazolam (Xanax).
In an earlier proceeding, Smiley plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. As a part of her plea, the remaining charges were dismissed.
– Naiyah Nicole Williams, 30, of Hazlehurst, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for her role. During the time of the investigation, Williams assisted the organization by receiving payments for allowing the top level co-conspirators to store large amounts of various drugs and up to 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in her home. A search warrant was executed at her residence and agents discovered seven ounces of methamphetamine, three ounces of powder cocaine, over 300 Xanax tablets, two large digital scales, packaging materials and two wrapped packages of tobacco ready to be smuggled into the prison systems. Williams was originally charged with:
- Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone (Bath Salts), and Alprazolam (Xanax).
- Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Marijuana and Alprazolam.
- Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.
In an earlier proceeding, Williams pled guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises and the rest of the charges were dismissed.
-Marquis Jerome Jacques, a/k/a “Joc,” 29, of Nicholls, Ga., was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, to run consecutive to his parole revocation. Jacques was originally charged with:
- Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone (Bath Salts), and Alprazolam (Xanax).
- Distribution of Methamphetamine; two counts of Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Distribution of 50 Grams or More or Methamphetamine.
Jacques pled guilty to one county of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. As a part of his plea deal, the remaining charges were dismissed. Jacques still has pending drug charges in Florida.
– Eden Dianne Wright, a/k/a “E,” 33, of Douglas, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison. At the time of her arrest she was charged with:
- Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and an amount of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, Eutylone (Bath Salts), and Alprazolam (Xanax).
- Unlawful Use of Communication Facility;
In an earlier proceeding, Wright pled to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. As part of her plea, the remaining charges were dismissed.
When each defendant completes their sentence, they will be on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.