MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two deputies from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and one inmate in the Shelby County Jail are facing charges for allegedly smuggling drugs into a correctional facility, a press release from the SCSO said.
Lillie Pittman, 31, and Joshua Williams, 30, both employed as correctional deputies at the SCSO, are accused of trafficking drugs into the facility and conspiring with inmate Romarus Turner and his girlfriend, Katurah Lewis.
The investigation stemmed from a routine search inside the jail, where investigators found drugs and at least one cell phone in a cell.
On Sept, 10, an internal investigation by SCSO found illegal conduct by the deputies, who were distributing narcotics in the main jail at 201 Poplar to Turner.
Between Sept. 10 and Oct. 8, detectives executed a search warrant at Lewis' address and seized around 1/4 pound of marijuana and other evidence.
The SCSO executed other search warrants on Oct. 15 at the homes of the corrections deputies. Upon searching Williams' address, detectives found a suboxone strip, 75 grams of marijuana and around 154 grams of raw tobacco. All were packaged in a manner that is consistent with smuggling into a penal facility and various drug paraphernalia, the press release said.
When detectives searched Pittman's address, they discovered 1.7 pounds of tobacco also packaged in a manner that is consistent with smuggling into a penal facility.
Sheriff Bonner said the SCSO immediately presented their findings to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
All four suspects were indicted by the grand jury on Nov. 7.
Joshua Williams, who was hired by SCSO in 2015, resigned on Oct. 15. On Nov. 8, he was arrested and booked at the main jail.
Lillie Pittman, who was hired by SCSO in 2022, was relieved of duty without pay on October 15. She was arrested and booked at Jail East for Women.
Both correctional deputies were charged with bribery of a public servant, introduction and possession of contraband in a penal facility, possession of marijuana with intention to manufacture/deliver/sell and official misconduct.
Williams has bonded out. Pittman is also out of jail after posting a $40,000 bond on Nov. 14.
Inmate Romarus Turner, 33, was indicted and charged with bribery of a public servant, introduction and possession of contraband in a penal facility and possession of marijuana with intention to manufacture/deliver/sell. He has been relocated to special management housing, according to the SCSO.
Katurah Lewis, 33, was also indicted, arrested and charged with bribery of a public servant, introduction and possession of contraband in a penal facility and possession of marijuana with intention to manufacture/deliver/sell.
According to the press release, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office instructs all personnel, at hire and at in-service, that drug transactions are criminal acts that will lead to prosecution and termination. It is forbidden by law and policy.
"When I believe my deputies are right, I will stand with them. However, when I believe that they're wrong, I will the first to say 'Hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.' This is one of those times," said Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner at a press conference. "The SCSO will not tolerate the misconduct of any employee and will continue to hold our employees accountable to the highest ethical standards to ensure our public's trust,"