4 Fulton Jail Contractors Charged In Contraband Probe

ATLANTA, GA — Four Fulton County contractors were arrested after being accused of various activities, which include having sex with inmates and providing cell phones to inmates, at the Fulton County Jail.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office said the contractors were employed as security officers by Strategic Security but worked as tower guards on the Fulton County Jail's sixth and seventh floors.

“These women unfortunately chose to be on the wrong side of the law by fraternizing with residents they were entrusted with watching over,” Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat said in a news release. “They will now have to face the consequences for the crimes they are accused of committing. Our employees and contractors alike are held to a high standard of integrity.

During an ongoing contraband probe, authorities said at least four inmates were charged on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of prohibited items.

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The following four contractors were charged:

LaQuna Ballard, 34: accused of sending explicit photos and videos to a resident and for accepting at least two payments from two different residents for cell phones and cigarettes; charged on suspicion of one count of possession of prohibited items by inmate or providing prohibited items to inmate and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Regina Harris, 26: accused of providing a resident with a cell phone; charged on suspicion of one count of prohibited items by inmate or providing prohibited items to inmate, one count of conspiracy to commit a felony and one count of crossing guard lines of jail with prohibited items.

Anizya Silas, 24: accused of conspiring to provide a resident with a cell phone charger and with providing a resident with an unauthorized staff meal; charged on suspicion of one count of possession of prohibited items by inmate or providing prohibited items to inmate and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Breaisha Tate, 26: accused of having sex at least three times with a resident and bringing in at least six cell phones and other contraband to a resident, for which she received payment. charged on suspicion of three counts of improper sexual contact by employee or agent second degree, five counts of crossing guard lines of jail with prohibited items and two counts of possession of prohibited items by inmate or providing prohibited items to inmate.

See Also:

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The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has been the focal point of a state and federal probe into jail conditions. Both the Georgia Senate and the U.S. Department of Justice have opened investigations into the jail last year.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said at an October 2023 news conference the Senate would examine law enforcement actions "on the streets," court case backlogs and the jail's overcrowding.

The DOJ's civil investigation was centered on the living conditions, inmate care and use of force at the jail. Justice officials said in a past news release the probe would also examine the jail's ability to protect people from violence and whether Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office discriminate against people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities inside of the jail.

The statuses of those investigations were not immediately known.