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BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that 10 people have been indicted for three contraband smuggling schemes operating at Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The investigation was led by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).
“We trust correctional staff to keep prisons safe – not smuggle contraband to the people they supervise,” said Attorney General Brown. “Our Office will always prosecute public servants who abuse their positions and undermine prison safety.”
“The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services seeks to hold all State employees to the highest standards, and any allegations of misconduct are taken with utmost seriousness,” said DPSCS Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs. “Upon learning of potential wrongdoing, the Department initiated a comprehensive investigation, which culminated in warrants being issued for the individuals involved. Our detectives executed the arrests promptly, and in accordance with departmental policy, any DPSCS employee who has been so charged will be suspended and will remain so throughout the disciplinary process. We are very proud of DPSCS detectives and investigators whose diligent work led to the successful conclusion of this investigation and the apprehension of the employees involved.”
In one conspiracy, Correctional Officer Sergeant Awungjia Rita Atabong, a 13-year veteran correctional officer, repeatedly smuggled drugs into JCI on behalf of multiple incarcerated individuals. Atabong regularly met with associates acting on behalf of incarcerated individuals, receiving contraband packages that she would subsequently smuggle into the correctional facility. Atabong communicated with the inmates using their contraband cell phones and was paid thousands of dollars over several smuggling trips. In one particularly egregious act, Atabong abused her position by tipping off an incarcerated individual that members of DPSCS’s contraband interdiction team were engaged in an active operation.
On July 14, 2025, at a search warrant executed at her residence in Anne Arundel County, Atabong was found to possess a large amount of contraband packaged to be smuggled into JCI. Among the items seized was 200 pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, a plastic bag containing 19.65 grams of the stimulant drug 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α-cyclohexylaminopropiophenone, 7,911 pills containing MDMA and methamphetamine, 78 grams of cannabis, 55 grams of THC-9, 54 grams of psilocin, 733 strips of buprenorphine, tobacco, cellphones with charging cords, and a variety of other items such as rolling papers and lighters.
Defendants charged in this conspiracy:
- Awungjia Atabong, 39, of Laurel, Maryland, a JCI correctional officer sergeant, is charged in a 40-count indictment, including charges of misconduct in office, contraband conspiracy, possession of controlled dangerous substances with the intent to distribute, and the possession of contraband with the intent to distribute.
- Michael Cates, 33, a JCI inmate, is charged in a 9-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy and illegal possession of a telecommunications device in a place of confinement.
- Tavon Williams, 41, a JCI inmate, is charged in a 10-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy and illegal possession of a telecommunications device in a place of confinement.
- Tyrell Smith, 36, a JCI inmate, is charged in a 9-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy and illegal possession of a telecommunications device in a place of confinement.
- James Gilyard IV, 36, a JCI inmate, is charged in a 6-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy and illegal possession of a telecommunications device in a place of confinement.
In another conspiracy, Correctional Educator Lakesha Murry, exploited her position to smuggle drugs, food, and other contraband into JCI for incarcerated students in exchange for money and luxury items, including a Gucci bag. Murry communicated directly with some of her incarcerated students using a contraband cell phone, taking specific requests for prohibited items. Murry also coordinated bringing in contraband food items. Murry would hide items on her person and then distribute them to her conspirators while in the JCI classroom. Security footage captured Murry kissing one of her incarcerated students on at least one occasion. On April 21, 2025, a search of incarcerated co-conspirator Allen Mitchell’s cell phone revealed unauthorized food. On June 9, 2025, Murry passed cigarettes and 5 pieces of paper soaked with synthetic cannabis to incarcerated individual Kevin Glover while they were in the JCI classroom.
Defendants charged in this conspiracy:
- Lakesha Murry, 49, of Middle River, Maryland, a JCI correctional educator, is charged in a 15-count indictment, including charges of misconduct in office, contraband conspiracy, possession of controlled dangerous substances with the intent to distribute, and the delivery of contraband to a person in confinement.
- Allen Mithcell, 39, a JCI inmate, is charged in a 7-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy, the illegal possession of a telecommunications device in a place of confinement, and the possession of contraband in a place of confinement.
- Kevin Glover, 46, a JCI inmate, is charged in an 8-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy, the illegal possession of CDS in a place of confinement, and the possession of contraband in a place of confinement.
In yet another conspiracy, Correctional Officer Kathyrn Hawes was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with an incarcerated individual Artemis Booker. Hawes coordinated with multiple incarcerated co-conspirators through texts and calls from their contraband cell phone. Among the items she provided was a watch, which she sent photos of to Booker’s contraband cell phone. When investigators searched Booker’s cell, they recovered the watch as well as other prohibited contraband, including a flash drive and tobacco. Upon her arrest at JCI in connection with this indictment, Hawes was found to be hiding additional contraband on her person that she had smuggled into the facility.
Defendants charged in this conspiracy:
- Kathrn Hawes, 29, of Laurel, Maryland, a JCI correctional officer, is charged in a 3-count indictment, including charges of misconduct in office, contraband conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess contraband with the intent to deliver.
- Artemis Booker, 50, a JCI inmate, is charged in a 7-count indictment, including charges of contraband conspiracy, the illegal possession of a telecommunications device in a place of confinement, and the possession of contraband in a place of confinement.
In September 2025, Attorney General Brown charged several incarcerated individuals with possession of contraband phones that were uncovered during the investigation into these schemes.
The cases have been charged in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Murry, Atabong, and Hawes have been released on their own recognizance. The charged incarcerated individuals are currently being held while serving other sentences.
In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked his Criminal Division, specifically Division Chief Katie Dorian, Organized Crime Unit Chief Paul Halliday, and the Investigations and Prosecutions Support Unit Chief Zachary Norfolk and Assistant Attorney General Colin McDaniels, who are prosecuting these cases. Attorney General Brown also thanked DPSCS for their partnership. Finally, Attorney General Brown thanked the State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County Anne Colt Leitess for assisting with this prosecution.
A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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