Former federal corrections officer sentenced for role in scheme to smuggle drugs into prison

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — A former guard at a federal prison in Florida has been sentenced to federal jail time himself for his role in a scheme to smuggle drugs into the prison.

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28-year-old Wayne Grant, Jr. pleaded guilty back in September to receiving a bribe.

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According to court documents, Grant was working as a corrections officer at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County in December of 2020 when he agreed to help smuggle methamphetamine into the prison for one of the inmates in exchange for payments.

Federal authorities learned about the scheme and began an undercover operation.

Investigators say Grant went on to work with the undercover agent, receiving approximately 70 grams of fake methamphetamine and $2,000 in money orders.

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According to the Department of Justice, Grant was seen collecting the packages of drugs from his post office box and deposited the money into his own bank account.

Investigators say Grant was even observed smuggling paraphernalia into the prison during one of his shifts and delivering it to an inmate.

A District Judge sentenced Grant Friday to a year plus eight months in federal prison with two more years of supervised release.

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The court also recommended that Grant should not serve his sentence at Coleman Correctional.

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Cox Media Group