4 Fulton prison contractors charged in smuggling investigation

ATLANTA, GA — Four Fulton County contractors were arrested after being accused of various activities at the Fulton County Jail, including having sex with inmates and providing cell phones to inmates.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office said the contractors were employed as security guards by Strategic Security but worked as guards on the sixth and seventh floors of the Fulton County Jail.

“These women unfortunately chose to place themselves on the wrong side of the law by fraternizing with residents they were entrusted to protect,” Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat said in a news release. “They will now face the consequences for the crimes they are accused of. Our employees and contractors alike are held to a high standard of integrity.

As part of an ongoing smuggling investigation, authorities said at least four detainees have been charged with suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of prohibited items.

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Charges were brought against the following four contracting parties:

LaQuina Ballard, 34: accused of sending explicit photographs and videos to a resident and accepting at least two payments for cell phones and cigarettes from two different residents; charged with suspicion of one count of possession of prohibited items by an inmate or providing prohibited items to an inmate and two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime.

Regina Harris, 26: accused of giving a resident a cell phone; charged with suspicion of possession of prohibited items by an inmate or providing prohibited items to an inmate, conspiracy to commit a crime, and crossing prison guard lines with prohibited items.

Anizya Silas, 24: charged with conspiracy to provide a resident with a cell phone charger and providing an unauthorized staff meal to a resident; charges of suspicion of possession of prohibited items by an inmate or providing prohibited items to an inmate and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Breaisha Tate, 26: accused of having sex with a resident on at least three occasions and of providing a resident with at least six cell phones and other contraband for which she received payment. Charged with suspicion of three counts of second-degree inappropriate sexual contact by an employee or agent, five counts of crossing prison guard lines with prohibited items, and two counts of possession of prohibited items by an inmate or furnishing prohibited items to an inmate.

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The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has been the focus of a state and federal investigation into prison conditions. Both the Georgia Senate and the U.S. Department of Justice launched investigations into the prison last year.

Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones said at a press conference in October 2023 that the Senate would investigate law enforcement actions “on the street,” the backlog of court cases and prison overcrowding.

The Justice Department's civil investigation focused on living conditions, inmate care and the use of force at the jail. Justice officials said in an earlier news release that the investigation will also examine the jail's ability to protect people from violence and whether Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office discriminate against people with diagnosed mental disabilities at the jail.

The status of these investigations was not immediately known.