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SCDC Correctional Officer Arrested for Smuggling Drugs into Broad River CI: SCDC Sends Strong Message on Staff Misconduct

By James Seidel | CC News Network | Columbia Bureau

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) is once again confronting internal corruption within its prison system. On Monday, the SCDC Inspector General released arrest warrants for Zyaire Nathaniel Lopez, 25, of Elgin, a now-former correctional officer at Broad River Correctional Institution. Lopez has been fired and criminally charged after allegedly smuggling contraband—including marijuana, tobacco, and rolling papers—into the facility.

According to official documents obtained by CC News Network, Lopez is accused of using a food container to hide the contraband and leaving the items inside a trash bag in a common area of the Wateree Dorm, where inmates later retrieved it. A law enforcement affidavit confirms the substances were found in a “salad container and a burrito container” and included materials believed to be marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids.

SCDC Former Employee, Zyaire Nathaniel Lopez on Perp Walk. Photo: SCDC

Lopez is now facing multiple charges, including:

Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
Furnishing contraband to a prisoner
Criminal conspiracy
Misconduct in office

The arrest is part of a growing effort by the SCDC Office of the Inspector General to root out internal threats and hold correctional employees accountable. “We do not take staff misconduct lightly,” an SCDC spokesperson said. “We are committed to maintaining the safety and integrity of our institutions.”

A Pattern of Abuse and Corruption?

Lopez’s arrest is not an isolated incident. Just weeks ago, two additional SCDC staff members were charged in unrelated cases that raise similar red flags about internal smuggling and policy violations.

Shontell Patrice Gamble, 31, a former correctional officer at Turbeville Correctional Institution, was arrested in March after being caught with contraband intended for inmate distribution.
Antoinette Briana Crawley, 33, a nurse assistant at Lee Correctional Institution, was also arrested last month on charges connected to bringing banned substances into the prison.

Each of these cases has reignited longstanding concerns about contraband pipelines being facilitated not just from the outside, but from within.

Warrants Detail the Scheme

The warrants against Lopez, signed on April 8, 2025, detail how he knowingly used his access to assist in trafficking drugs into a maximum-security facility. The SCDC Inspector General’s Office cited witness statements, surveillance footage, and a post-Miranda confession from Lopez himself as the basis for probable cause.

A second warrant notes that Lopez admitted to being paid for his role, and knowingly brought in more than 28 grams of a substance believed to be marijuana, placing him in violation of South Carolina Code Section 44-53-0370 (PWID).

⚖️ Due Process Still Applies

While the evidence against Lopez appears extensive, SCDC reminded the public of the importance of due process. In a statement, the agency noted:

“After an arrest, the burden of proof remains on the State to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”

Still, officials say Lopez’s firing was immediate and non-negotiable.

Zyaire Nathaniel Lopez, 25, of Elgin, was arrested/charged with bringing drugs and contraband into Broad River CI. Charges involve disguising the drugs in a food container. He was fired. Details: https://t.co/jxcD9gIBaj pic.twitter.com/9dm3EfJ246

— S.C. Department of Corrections (@SCDCNews) April 14, 2025

SCDC’s Message is Clear

This is the third arrest of an SCDC staff member in the past 30 days—and it appears the department is taking a no-nonsense approach to rooting out corruption. By making these warrants public and moving swiftly with disciplinary action, SCDC is sending a message: abuse of authority inside South Carolina’s prisons will not be tolerated.

James Seidel is the founder of CC News Network and host of Crime & Cask, reporting on corruption, crime, and criminal justice throughout the Carolinas. For tips, reach out to crimeandcask@gmail.com.