Three former guards at Riverbend Correctional Facility in Milledgeville, Georgia, were convicted last Wednesday for smuggling drugs, phones, and other contraband items into the prison. Prosecutors allege that guards Tierra Harrison, Nastashi Seals, and Shanell Brown worked together to transport prohibited items to inmates, including cellphones, tobacco, and marijuana.
Following a two-day trial, the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit sentenced each of the guards to 15 years, with 10 years to be served in prison. Assistant District Attorney Tammy Coffey emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “These officers took an oath to uphold the law, but they themselves broke it.”
The scheme, which began in March 2018, was uncovered in November 2018 when surveillance footage captured the guards leaving contraband in a bathroom trash can within the staff dining and kitchen area. An inmate, Juan Shy, would later collect the items from the trash, aided by another inmate, Antonio Banks. Both inmates have since pleaded guilty to drug possession with intent to distribute and received 20-year sentences, with seven years to be served in prison.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about contraband in Georgia’s prisons, with Coffey underscoring the risks it poses to both inmates and staff. She hopes the conviction sends a clear message about the circuit’s commitment to combating contraband smuggling.
