Columbia, S.C.- The state grand jury has issued indictments against five South Carolina Department of Corrections officers for corruption and conspiring to smuggle drugs and cell phones into McCormick Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison.
“Prison is no place for cell phones,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson in a statement. “Illegal phones and the contraband trade drive not only a highly lucrative black market, but also gang power, gang rivalries, and gang violence both inside and outside prison walls.”
Wilson announced the indictments Thursday and said his office is working with the State Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Corrections to aggressively root out corruption within the prison system. He said the indictments followed a multi-jurisdictional investigation and arose from a State Grand Jury investigation known as, “Gatekeeper”.
Indicted are Brittany Pixley, Judy Mather, Shaquaila Morgan, Dion Gaines and George Leverette. All face numerous charges that range from misconduct in office to sexual misconduct with an inmate, money laundering and unlawful possession of prescription medication.
“It’s always disappointing when a law enforcement officer breaks the public trust,” said SCDC Director Bryan Stirling. “We’re working hard to make sure these defendants are fully prosecuted.”
McCormick Correctional Institution is a state prison for men that houses more than 1,000 inmates.
