Atlanta Woman Jailed for Prison Smuggling Ring

A high-ranking correctional officer’s corrupt scheme has come to a grinding halt. Ashlee Richardson-Barley, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for her role in smuggling contraband into the Federal Correctional Institution, Estill in South Carolina.

Between November 2019 and April 2020, Richardson-Barley, while employed as a correctional officer at FCI Estill, engaged in a brazen scheme to smuggle cigarettes, marijuana, cellphones, and suboxone into the facility. The illicit goods were paid for by inmates to the tune of $15,700.

“Federal employees, especially those who enforce the law, are held to a higher standard,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “This sentence sends a clear message that no one is above the law, and we will prosecute those who threaten the safety of our correctional facilities.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Amy Bower are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The agency’s Special Agent in Charge, Eric R. Fehlman, emphasized the danger posed by contraband in prisons. “Contraband, including cell phones, in prisons can be dangerous weapons. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice any correctional officer that violates their oath and smuggles contraband into federal prison facilities,” he said.

United States District Judge David Norton handed down the sentence, which includes a one-year term of court-ordered supervision following Richardson-Barley’s release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of corruption within our nation’s correctional facilities. As a correctional officer, Richardson-Barley was entrusted with upholding the law and maintaining order. Instead, she exploited her position for personal gain, putting the safety of inmates and staff at risk.

Ashlee Richardson-Barley’s sentencing is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within our nation’s correctional facilities. It sends a clear message that those who engage in such egregious behavior will be held accountable for their actions.