Multiple defendants, one of whom was a Bureau of Prisons correctional officer from Hinesville, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme to introduce contraband into Federal Correctional Institute–Jesup.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Ashley Brown, a/k/a “Honey Honey,” a/k/a “Bonnie Bonnie,” a/k/a “Clyde Clyde,” 37, of Hinesville, was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to 24 counts of a Public Official Accepting a Bribe and 16 counts of Money Laundering.

According to court documents and testimony, from May 2022 and continuing through September 2022, Brown was employed as a correctional officer and later as a material handler supervisor at FCI-Jesup, when investigators initiated an investigation into a report of U.S. currency being sent to Brown from inmates inside FCI-Jesup.

Investigators determined that inmates sent money to Brown using Cash App in exchange for Brown to smuggle contraband, including methamphetamine, cell phones, K2, and marijuana, into the prison, before providing it to the codefendants, who would distribute it to other inmates through the commissary system. Brown received more than $80,000 for her role in the scheme.

All additional defendants associated with this case have also been sentenced, they include:

• Adrian Sims, a/k/a “Abe,” 53, an inmate at the FCI-Jesup, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possessing Contraband in Prison.
• Navarus Bryant, a/k/a “Tez,” 48, an inmate at the FCI-Jesup, was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to 24 counts of Paying a Bribe to a Public Official and 24 counts of Money Laundering.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Public officials within a prison are entrusted with maintaining the safety and integrity of our penal institutions, and those who trade that public trust for personal profit compromise the security of everyone inside,” Heap said. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to relentlessly prosecute those who exploit their position to undermine the justice system.”

The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.

“Introducing drugs and cell phones into a prison puts the whole facility at risk and violates the basic principles of what it means to be a correctional officer," stated Special Agent in Charge Eric Fehlman of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General's Southeast Region. "The DOJ OIG will continue working with its law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who violates their oath and engages in this type of conduct."

This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson and former Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan E. Bondura.