Attorney General Alan Wilson announces former Corrections employee sentenced for smuggling drugs into prison and having relationship with inmate

(COLUMBIA, S.C) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that former Department of Corrections Certified Nurse Assistant Jameelah Fortune was sentenced today to 10 years for bringing drugs into a state prison and having a relationship with an inmate. Judge Heath Taylor sentenced her to seven years in prison, followed by three years of probation.

On July 28^th, Fortune pleaded guilty to:

• Trafficking Methamphetamine 10g-28g
• Attempt to furnish a prisoner with contraband
• Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• Criminal Conspiracy

The judge at that plea hearing deferred sentencing until today.

“My office will continue to work closely with the Department of Corrections to keep contraband out of our prisons, whether it’s drugs or cell phones that inmates use to continue committing crimes while they’re behind bars,” Attorney General Wilson said.

This investigation began after SCDC correctional staff seized a contraband cellphone from inmate Ancel Harris. The device contained thousands of messages exchanged between Harris and Fortune, along with additional evidence of criminal activity. Harris has also been criminally charged for his alleged role in the conspiracy with Fortune and is currently awaiting trial.

"People who are sworn to uphold the law should be held to a higher standard when they break that trust," said Joel E. Anderson, Interim Director of the S.C. Department of Corrections. "This woman conspired with inmates to commit crimes and flood our institutions with deadly illegal drugs. After today, she will have an inmate number instead of an employee badge."

Thanks to Special Agent Trevor Sherbert of the SCDC-OIG Major Crimes and Public Corruption Unit for his work investigating and preparing this case, and Margaret Scott in the South Carolina Department of Corrections Criminal Prosecution Division, who prosecuted the case.