GA State Prison Guard Guilty Of Smuggling Drugs

ROME, GA — A former state prison guard pleaded guilty to smuggling multiple types of drugs past prison security to inmates, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Voltaire Peter Pierre, of Norcross, worked at Hays State Prison in Trion and was smuggling drugs from June to October 2018, the release says. He smuggled methamphetamine, crack cocaine, marijuana and tobacco into the prison for the inmates, many of whom were a part of the Bloods street gang.

Pierre worked with inmates and their associates to have drugs dropped off to motels and to his family's home. He then smuggled the drugs into the prison in soup cants and other seemingly innocuous items, the release says.

Inmates and associates paid Pierre through a mobile payment app.

"Public service is a duty and a privilege, not an opportunity to leverage a position of trust for personal financial gain," U.S. Attorney Byung Pak said in the release. "As a former corrections officer, Pierre violated his oath to uphold the law, betrayed the community, and endangered his fellow officers and inmates," Pak said.

"Smuggling illegal contraband into a prison not only jeopardizes the safety of staff and inmates, it also fosters criminal activities inside and outside of the prison," said Chris Hacker, the FBI Atlanta's Special Agent in Charge.

Pierre pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, crack cocaine and marijuana and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where a minor resides.