A former Georgia corrections officer was convicted on federal drug charges after authorities said she had methamphetamine and marijuana packaged and prepared for delivery into the prison.
Lekesia Lashea Harden, 23, of Dublin, was convicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine said. Her boyfriend, Tremayne Linder, 30, of Dublin, recently pleaded guilty on the same charge, Christine said.
Harden was a corrections officer at Wheeler Correctional Facility, a privately operated, medium-security prison in Alamo, Christine said.
Linder was arrested and convicted on drug and theft charges out of Dublin, jail records show. He spent 571 days in the Laurens County jail on four felony counts.
Officers from the Dublin Police Department visited Harden’s address on April 9, 2018, to serve Linder an arrest warrant, Christine said. The warrant accused him of failing to complete probation requirements.
When authorities searched Harden’s home, they found two small packages containing meth and 10 more containing marijuana, Christine said. The marijuana was wrapped in electrical tape and some of the packages contained rolling papers, which is “a sign that the material was packaged for contraband delivery to prison,” Christine said.
Harden was found guilty by a jury after a two-day trial, Christine said. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
“A corrections officer undoubtedly understood the potential risk of associating with a convicted felon and engaging in drug trafficking,” Christine said. “She now faces substantial time inside a prison cell as the price for her inexcusable violation of the law.”
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