Calhoun State Prison guard sentenced for smuggling drugs into prison

ALBANY — A former Georgia Corrections officer, Joshua Washington, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison this week for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana to inmates at Calhoun State Prison, where he worked at the time of his arrest.

Washington, who is from Cuthbert, was caught smuggling drugs into the prison in 2016 and entered a plea of guilty to the charge last Nov. 8. During his plea hearing, Washington admitted that on Sept. 27, 2016, while employed as a correctional officer at Calhoun State Prison in Morgan, he attempted to bring nearly 100 grams of methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of marijuana into the prison facility for distribution to inmates, prosecutors said.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, Washington said he had been promised $3,000 by another person for bringing the drugs into the facility.

U.S. District Court Judge Leslie J. Abrams in Albany handed down a sentence of 80 months on Monday for Washington to serve and in the federal system. The federal system has no parole.

“Nothing is so disheartening as when someone, such as a law enforcement officer, is given special trust by society and they violate that trust,” U.S. Attorney Charles E. Peeler said. “Here, Mr. Washington did so for the basest of reasons, money, and instead of contributing to the correction of those in his charge he contributed to their corruption by supplying them with illegal drugs.”

According to the plea agreement, a co-worker noticed the strong odor of marijuana coming from Washington when he arrived at work the day he was arrested.

“A search of his person revealed two large bundles were hidden under his clothes in his torso area,” the plea agreement said. “Upon discovery of the bundles, Washington turned and ran outside the prison and threw the bundles on top of the building. Agents retrieved the bundles, unwrapped them, and discovered that one contained marijuana and the other methamphetamine. The marijuana was packaged in 80 small baggies. The methamphetamine was packaged in 20 small baggies.

“Washington was advised of his Miranda Rights, waived them and gave an audio-video taped statement. Washington stated that he was contacted by a former inmate of the facility known to him only as ‘I am.’ ‘I am’ had someone drop the bundles off and promised to pay him at least $3,000 to carry the bundles inside the prison.”

Reports indicate the drugs were submitted to the DEA laboratory for testing. Test results indicated that there was 97.1 grams of 99 percent pure methamphetamine and approximately 548 grams of marijuana.

“We are pleased to see justice being served on this individual for his role in jeopardizing the safe and secure operation of our facilities,” Corrections Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier said. “Our commitment to ridding our prisons of corruption includes shedding light on staff who choose a path of dishonor.”