Guards suspected of smuggling marijuana, cell phones into prison

GRACEVILLE — Two guards at Graceville Correctional Facility and an accomplice have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle cell phones and marijuana into the prison.

The guards, Tyler Bradford Daniels, 24, of Graceville and Matthew Tyler Crawford, 23, of Malone, as well as Daniels’ girlfriend, Kimber Lee Chambliss, 18, of Graceville have all been charged in the case, Jackson County Sheriff’s officials wrote in a news release.

According to the news release, Daniels and Crawford were attempting to smuggle cell phones and marijuana into the prison. However, an undercover informant let the Washington and Jackson county drug task forces know of the scheme, officials wrote in the release. Investigators set up a sting on Daniels involving cell phones and then later learned that Daniels was supplying contraband to inmates and having the inmates send $1,000 wire transfers to Chambliss.

Investigators added that Crawford was assisting Daniels by helping him bypass the metal detector and searches at the front door of the prison when the pair arrived at work.

Crawford is charged with conspiracy to introduce contraband into a secure facility. Daniels is charged with two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a secure facility and attempt to introduce contraband into a secure facility. Chambliss is charged with two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a secure facility.

Daniels’ and Crawford have both been placed on suspension from Graceville Correctional pending the outcome of their cases.