Seven people in South Carolina charged in $550K Department of Corrections bribery scheme

 The FBI on Wednesday raided the office and business of Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas (D) in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Seven people in Columbia, South Carolina were charged for their roles in a major $550K prison bribery scheme .

“A former SCDC officer, two inmates, and others have been charged in a bribery scheme,” the FBI wrote in a post on X. “Lowanda Atkinson, a former SCDC corrections officer who was assigned to the property room, is alleged to have accepted more than $550,000 in bribes from inmates and their family and associates in exchange for smuggling contraband.”

Documents show that Atkinson worked as a corrections officer for 16 years and resigned in 2023. At the time of her resignation, she was assigned to a property room at Lee Correctional Institution. It was her job to maintain inmate property and enforce laws.

“Atkinson is alleged to have accepted more than $550,000 in bribes from inmates Jason Brown and Williamson, and Jason Brown’s family and associates in exchange for smuggling contraband,” the Department of Justice said in a statement. “Atkinson allegedly smuggled phones, phone accessories, tobacco, and marijuana into Lee so that Jason Brown and Williamson could sell and distribute the contraband to other inmates.”

Each of the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.

“The inmates sold and distributed the contraband to other inmates, and Atkinson is alleged to have received a portion of the cash proceeds,” the FBI said. “Atkinson then spent the money on a luxury SUV, designer purchases, and thousands of dollars in cosmetic procedures.”