JESSUP, Md. —
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on Monday announced the indictment of 10 people—three correctional staff members and seven inmates—accused of running three separate contraband smuggling operations inside Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI), a maximum-security prison long plagued by corruption, violence, and staff-inmate collusion.

The indictments, handed down in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, stem from joint investigations by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Prosecutors say the schemes involved smuggled drugs, cellphones, food, clothing, synthetic cannabis, and other prohibited items, often facilitated through staff bribery, personal relationships, and coordinated use of illegal cellphones.

Attorney General Brown said the charges reflect a “deeply rooted pattern of misconduct” at the 1,800-bed prison.
“We trust correctional staff to keep facilities safe—not to act as conduits for drugs, phones, and criminal networks,” Brown said in a statement.

All three staff suspects were released on their own recognizance Monday afternoon. The inmate defendants remain incarcerated on unrelated convictions.

---

The Alleged Operations

1. Sgt. Awungjia Rita Atabong: Large-Scale Drug Pipeline

Accused: Sgt. Awungjia Rita Atabong, 39
Charges: 40 counts — misconduct in office, contraband conspiracy, CDS possession with intent to distribute

Investigators say Atabong used her 13-year tenure at JCI to smuggle fentanyl-laced pills, methamphetamine, cannabis, and cellphones to at least four inmates. She allegedly met with outside associates to obtain drug bundles, accepted thousands of dollars per delivery, and communicated with inmates using contraband phones.

A July 2025 raid on her home uncovered ready-to-smuggle packages that prosecutors say were destined for multiple inmates, including:

• James Gilyard IV, 36
• Michael Cates, 33
• Tyrell Smith, 36
• Tavon Williams, 41

Atabong is also accused of tipping off an inmate about a DPSCS interdiction operation.

Her attorney declined to comment.

---

2. Correctional Educator Lakesha Murry: Drugs-for-Gifts Scheme in the Classroom

Accused: Lakesha Murry, correctional educator
Charges: 15 counts — misconduct in office, contraband conspiracy

Prosecutors say Murry used her teaching role to smuggle drugs, food, cigarettes, and synthetic-cannabis-soaked paper directly to incarcerated students. In exchange, she allegedly received:

• Cash
• Luxury goods
• A designer Gucci bag

A security video referenced in court documents reportedly shows Murry kissing a student in her classroom.

Two inmates connected to the scheme were also charged but not named in Monday’s release. Murry has no listed attorney and could not be reached.

---

3. Officer Kathryn Hawes: Inappropriate Relationship and Coordinated Smuggling

Accused: Officer Kathryn Hawes, 29
Charges: Misconduct in office, contraband conspiracy, related offenses

Hawes is accused of engaging in an “inappropriate relationship” with inmate Artemis Booker, 50, allegedly smuggling him a cellphone, watch, and other items while coordinating with at least two co-conspirators.

Investigators say she used illegal texts and calls to communicate with inmates. When she reported for work earlier this year, officers arrested her and discovered additional hidden contraband on her person.

Booker and inmates Kevin Glover and Allen Mitchell face new contraband charges linked to the operation.

Hawes has no listed attorney.

---

Jessup’s Long History of Corruption

Jessup Correctional Institution has been the epicenter of Maryland’s prison corruption problems for more than a decade. The latest indictments mirror prior scandals:

• 2023: Eleven people — including a contracted nurse — charged in a ring supplying Suboxone, marijuana, tobacco, and SIM cards.
• 2020–2022: A federal racketeering probe resulted in 15 convictions, with officers receiving bribes and inmates running criminal operations via smuggled phones.
• 2018–2019: Multiple federal investigations uncovered heroin and cocaine pipelines, gang-linked violence, and the trading of pornography-loaded flash drives. Nearly 200 prison-related indictments were issued across Maryland facilities over four years.

The repeated security failures have driven violence, overdoses, internal extortion, and the growth of inmate-run criminal enterprises.

---

Facility Set to Close in 2026

Citing the chronic corruption and unsafe conditions, Governor Wes Moore announced in late 2025 that Jessup Correctional Institution will officially close in June 2026. Staff and inmates are expected to be relocated across the state.

Corrections officials say the closure will allow Maryland to “reset” its approach to high-security incarceration, though critics argue the systemic dysfunction merely shifts to new buildings unless deeper reforms follow.

---

Status of the Cases

All indictments were unsealed Monday. No hearings, arraignments, or plea negotiations have been scheduled yet.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the cases will proceed in Anne Arundel County.

Trials could be delayed or impacted by the upcoming closure and reassignments of JCI operations.

MDBayNews will continue monitoring court filings as they become public.

---

Keep MDBayNews Reporting Free

MDBayNews exists to help Marylanders understand decisions made by state and local leaders — especially when those decisions affect daily life, rights, and public services.

If this article helped clarify what’s happening or why it matters, reader support makes it possible to keep publishing clear, independent reporting like this.

👉 Support Local Journalism

Have a tip or documents to share?

We review submissions carefully and confidentially. Anonymous tips are welcome when appropriate.

 👉 Submit a Tip