By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Last week was a busy one for Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) enforcement officers and investigators. From March 23 through March 26, four people were arrested for trying to smuggle drugs and other contraband into W.C. Holman Correctional Facility, and a corrections officer was arrested for having sex with an inmate.
3-in-1
The biggest bust at the prison, just outside Atmore, came last Wednesday, March 26, when two men and a woman were arrested during a failed attempt to get illicit or prohibited items into the hands of inmates, including a kilo of marijuana, along with various quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, oxycodone, even paper that had been sprayed with an unspecified drug.
ADOC officials said the total seizure included “approximately 1,008 grams of marijuana; approximately 88 grams of methamphetamine; approximately 20 grams of oxycodone; approximately 20 grams of sprayed paper, and approximately 4 grams of fentanyl.”
The trio’s smuggling attempt also included eight cell phones and 12 vape pens, state corrections officials reported.
The scheme was nipped in the bud when an ADOC K-9 unit noticed a “suspicious vehicle.” The unit was assisted by agents from ADOC’s Narcotics and Law Enforcement Services Divisions in a search of the vehicle that led to discovery of the drugs and other prohibited items.
Adam Louis Malone, Audrey Teresa Kelley and Frederick Jermaine Cobb (no ages or cities of residence provided) were taken into custody and processed into the Escambia County Detention Center.
Each is charged with trafficking in marijuana, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in fentanyl, prohibited activities, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime (distribution), and possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone).
The ADOC investigation into the smuggling attempt is ongoing, and further charges are pending results of that investigation.
CO arrested
Just two days prior to that, on March 24, a Holman corrections officer was arrested on several charges in connection with her job, including that she was involved in a sexual relationship with an inmate.
ADOC investigators alleged that Sabrina Taylor (age and city of residence not provided) was sexually involved with an unidentified “incarcerated person” over a period that began February 24 and continued until March 23. During that time, Taylor was a corrections officer (CO) at the prison, where the inmate population includes all males on “Death Row.”
An arrest warrant was obtained March 24, and the prison officer was arrested that day. According to an ADOC press release, the former CO is charged with using her position for financial gain, providing an inmate with a cell phone, custodial sexual misconduct and first-degree promoting prison contraband.
The investigation into Taylor’s activities continues, officials said.
Visit curtailed
A day before the CO’s arrest, on March 23, a female visitor to Holman was taken into custody when a routine search turned up a bag containing about three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana, apparently intended for the inmate the woman was visiting.
ADOC officials reported that Kimberly Damas was arrested and charged with one count each of first-degree possession of marijuana, second-degree promoting prison contraband and attempting to commit a controlled substance crime.
The investigation into that incident is also ongoing and could lead to more charges or arrests, officials said.