Seven South Carolina prison employees have been indicted amid a handful of investigations to remove those accused of smuggling contraband into state prisons, having sex with inmates or participating in other illegal activities, the attorney general announced last week.
“We continue to focus on the problem of contraband cell phones in prisons caused by corruption, financial crimes and drug trafficking, but now we have allegations involving child abuse from within the walls of SCDC,” South Carolina Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson said in press release last week. “We are committed to bringing severe accountability for such alleged abuses.”
Wilson detailed three recent investigations at the state’s prisons that resulted in nine people being charged, seven of whom worked for the state Department of Corrections.
The individuals were indicted by a state grand jury on crimes ranging from alleged criminal sexual conduct with minors to drug trafficking.
“The combination of public corruption and contraband cell phones has contributed to violent crime, drug trafficking, child sex crimes and other crimes committed against our people,” Wilson said.
Operation “Clean Sweep,” one of three investigations into alleged prison corruption, at Lee Correctional Institution, found inmate Jacob Lance allegedly used a contraband cell phone to encourage his girlfriend, identified as Abbygale Alexandria El-Dier, to record herself, allegedly, abusing daughter sexually, and sent the recording to her.
Inmate Jacob Lance is accused of using a contraband cellphone to encourage his girlfriend to record himself sexually abusing her daughter and send the footage to her. SC Department of Corrections Lance and El-Dier have been charged with five counts of first-degree felony child sexual abuse, 10 counts of first-degree felony sexual exploitation of a child and one count of conspiracy. Simpsonville PD
Lance reportedly obtained the cell phone from a prison employee.
“I’ve seen a lot,” state Corrections Director Bryan Stirling told the outlet, “[but] I will never forget that poor child’s face.”
Both Lance and El-Dier are charged with five counts of first-degree criminal sexual exploitation of a child, 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual exploitation of a child and one count of conspiracy, according to the attorney general.
Two Lee Correctional Institution employees were charged with facilitating the smuggling of contraband cellphones, The State reported.
Lance said he obtained the cell phone from a prison guard. AFP via Getty Images
The attorney general’s office said the state is seeking a life sentence without parole for Lance.
The two prison employees, identified as food service manager Brian Keely and Lt. Brittany Welch, were both arrested during a surprise operation by law enforcement at the jail.
Investigators said Keely’s cellphone showed evidence he made deals to sell contraband cellphones to inmates and he was allegedly found in possession of material indicating child sexual assault.
He also allegedly had a stash of cell phones and drugs hidden in his cafeteria office, The State reported.
Welch is accused of giving information to inmates to search for contraband and allowing inmates to freely share the contraband.
Two food service workers were arrested for illegally selling contraband phones to inmates. AP
Another operation, dubbed “Gatekeeper,” led to the indictment of three additional prison employees at McCormick Correctional Institution for “allegedly participating in the illegal contraband trade inside the prison.”
Five other employees at the men’s prison were indicted in July on charges ranging from a guard allegedly having sexual relations with an inmate, misconduct in office and money laundering.
The third operation, titled “Block Party,” led to the indictment of two corrections officers at the Broad River Correctional Institution in connection with smuggling contraband into the prison.
Investigators found 600 grams of methamphetamine, 200 grams of cocaine, as well as marijuana, tobacco and a cell phone during the operation, according to the AG’s office.
The two prison employees, identified as food service manager Brian Keely and Lt. Brittany Welch, were both taken into custody during a surprise law enforcement operation at the jail. WIS TV
Authorities made clear last week that contraband cellphones are a major threat to the prison system, and could lead to inmates running criminal networks behind bars.
“We have the largest RICO case in the history of the state running out of prisons,” Stirling said, according to WRDW. “We have had a veteran commit suicide. We had a corrections officer shot at his home. We have told you that this is a problem over and over again.”
“The most dangerous thing an inmate can have is a cell phone,” Stirling added, according to The State.
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