Bent Guard Drakes Gets 2 Years for Cell Phone Smuggling

PELHAM, GA – A former guard at the Mize Street Detention Facility is trading his uniform for an orange jumpsuit. Curtis Drakes, 33, of Mitchell County, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in federal prison on June 5, 2014, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to provide contraband to inmates. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands in Albany, Georgia.

Drakes admitted to accepting cash from inmates between April 15, 2013, and May 16, 2013, in exchange for smuggling cell phones into the facility. These phones, strictly prohibited within the detention center, represent a clear breach of security and a dangerous compromise of the facility’s integrity. He entered his guilty plea on February 11, 2014.

“When Mr. Drakes smuggled cell phones into a secure detention facility, he not only violated his oath, he put the safety of his fellow guards, law enforcement officers, and potential witnesses in jeopardy,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore for the Middle District of Georgia. “We don’t need people who are locked up using cell phones to conduct illegal business or intimidate witnesses in the community.” Moore’s statement underscores the gravity of the offense and the potential consequences of such actions.

The investigation, led by the United States Marshal Service and the Pelham Police Department, revealed a calculated scheme to profit from the vulnerabilities of the prison system. Drakes exploited his position of trust for personal gain, jeopardizing the safety and security of the entire facility. The details of the financial transactions and the methods used to conceal the cell phones remain undisclosed, but the outcome is clear: a betrayal of public trust and a federal conviction.

Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the evidence gathered by the investigating agencies. The successful prosecution sends a message that such corruption will not be tolerated and that those who abuse their positions of authority will be held accountable.

Anyone with further questions regarding this case is directed to contact Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on any further developments in this case of institutional betrayal.