Kevin Thomas, Oxycodone Smuggling, TN 2016

Kevin Thomas, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, is at the center of a federal indictment accusing him and two others of attempting to flood the Shelby County Correctional Center with oxycodone and other contraband. The plot, allegedly orchestrated from the outside with inside help, unfolded between April 2015 and August 2016, culminating in a sting that exposed corruption behind bars and a black market in prescription opioids.

Thomas and Aaron Travonta Wallace, 26, also of Memphis, are each charged with one count of attempting to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute and distribute oxycodone. If convicted, both face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The indictment paints a picture of a tightly run smuggling operation, exploiting vulnerabilities in jail security to feed addiction behind bars.

The inside man, Kalon Jennings, 29, was a correctional officer at the facility and now faces the harshest fallout. Jennings is charged with two counts of attempting to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute and distribute oxycodone. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine. But his betrayal went beyond drugs.

Jennings is also charged with two counts of unlawfully possessing and using the social security numbers of numerous inmates during the commission of a felony. For each count, he faces a mandatory two-year sentence—consecutive to any other term—and a fine of up to $250,000. Authorities say he sold the stolen information for cash, turning inmate identities into a profit stream.

“Committing criminal acts like those alleged threatens the reputation of the many correctional officers who perform their jobs with honor and integrity every day,” said Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. “This indictment should serve as a reminder that no one is excluded from criminal prosecution.”

The investigation was led by the FBI’s Tarnished Badge Task Force and the Shelby County Correctional Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Whitmore is prosecuting the case. Bill Gupton, Director of the Shelby County Division of Corrections, confirmed that internal staff flagged the activity, leading to swift law enforcement action. “The net is always out there,” Gupton warned. “If policy violations or criminal actions occur, there will be swift consequences.” The defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.