In a startling development at the Fulton County Jail, four security officers employed by a contract company have been arrested and terminated following a wide-ranging corruption investigation. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the investigation, which began in May, is ongoing, with more arrests expected. The arrested individuals, all young women, were discovered to have been involved in smuggling contraband items, including cell phones, cigarettes, and even food, into the jail. This report provides a detailed account of the allegations against these former security officers.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office revealed a series of alarming security breaches involving four female security officers who were contracted to work at the jail. The officers worked for a company named Strategic Security. Following the investigation, all four have been arrested and are now inmates in the same facility where they previously worked.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began in May, and the four officers were arrested on Tuesday. The officers have been identified as Basha Tate, Regina Harris, Lakuna Ballard, and Ania Silus. Each of these individuals faces serious criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in smuggling contraband into the jail.
Details of the Allegations
Basha Tate, one of the arrested officers, admitted to smuggling cell phones into the jail by concealing them inside a book. According to records, Tate confessed to cutting out portions of the pages of a book to create a hidden compartment for the phones. She allegedly brought a total of six cell phones into the jail and handed them over to an inmate.
Additionally, Tate admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the same inmate on three separate occasions in a bathroom on the seventh floor of the jail’s South Tower. The investigation also revealed that Tate smuggled in strips of paper laced with chemicals used for smoking on two occasions. Tate received payments from the inmate through the Cash App, totaling $1,682, in exchange for the contraband she smuggled into the facility.
Regina Harris, another terminated security officer, faces three criminal charges related to providing a contraband cell phone to an inmate. The details of how Harris smuggled the phone into the jail have not been fully disclosed, but the charges suggest a significant breach of security protocols.
Lakuna Ballard, the third officer implicated in the scandal, is accused of sending explicit photos and videos to an inmate. In addition to these charges, Ballard faces conspiracy charges for her involvement in discussions about smuggling cigarettes and cell phones into the jail. The exact nature of her conversations and plans remains under investigation, but the charges indicate a coordinated effort to violate jail security.
Ania Silus, the fourth security officer arrested, faces charges of conspiracy and providing unauthorized food to an inmate. Silus is accused of giving an inmate a chicken pot pie, an action that, while seemingly minor, constitutes a violation of jail regulations. The conspiracy charge against Silus suggests that she may have been involved in a broader scheme to smuggle contraband into the facility.
Ongoing Investigation and Repercussions
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has made it clear that this investigation is far from over. Natalie Ammons, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, indicated that more arrests are likely as the investigation continues. The arrest and termination of these four officers highlight significant security concerns within the Fulton County Jail and underscore the challenges faced by the Sheriff’s Office in maintaining order and security within the facility.
The arrested officers were granted bond, but as of the latest reports, none of the four had been able to secure their release. The fallout from these arrests is expected to be significant, both for the individuals involved and for the security company that employed them. Strategic Security, the company that hired the arrested officers, has terminated their employment but has not yet issued a public statement regarding the arrests.
Conclusion
The arrest of four female security officers at the Fulton County Jail has exposed a serious breach of security within the facility. The ongoing investigation by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is expected to uncover more details about the extent of the corruption and could lead to additional arrests.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity and vigilance in maintaining the security of correctional facilities. As the investigation continues, the Sheriff’s Office is likely to implement new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.