Former Obion County Jailer, Inmate Indicted for Smuggling Marijuana

Jackson, TN – A former Obion County Jail correctional officer, a jail inmate, and the inmate’s girlfriend have all been indicted on federal drug charges. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.

According to the indictment, from February 2015 until June 2015, Markia Patton, 30; Cara Bing, 34; and Shalyndrea Williams, 25, conspired with each other to smuggle and distribute marijuana inside Obion County Jail.

Patton, an inmate at the Obion County Jail, had his girlfriend, Williams, bring marijuana into the jail. From there, Bing, a correctional officer at the time, would retrieve the marijuana, smuggle it inside the jail, and distribute it to Patton.

According to information presented in court, agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) were informed that Patton was having marijuana brought into the jail. The investigation also revealed that Bing was aiding Patton in the criminal offense.

Based on the aforementioned information, surveillance was set up on the entrance to the women’s restroom in the lobby of the facility. In June 2015, agents discovered more than 30 grams of marijuana in the trash can of the restroom. Williams was allegedly directed by Patton to bring the drugs into the restroom.

Williams allegedly dropped off drugs and tobacco in the facility’s women’s restroom on at least six occasions for Patton, according to court information. Bing was paid several hundred dollars to retrieve and deliver the smuggled drugs to Patton.

All three defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. They each have also been charged with one count of aiding and abetting, distributing, attempting to distribute, and possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana.

If convicted, the defendants face individual sentences of up to five years imprisonment. They also face individual fines of up to $250,000.

This case’s investigation was led by TBI. The Obion County Sheriff’s Department and 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force assisted with the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Boswell.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.