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SCDC Corruption Crackdown: Two Arrested in Ongoing Investigation into Prison Misconduct

By James Seidel | CC News Network | Broken Badges Series

Turbeville and Lee Correctional Officers Arrested in Expanding SCDC Corruption Investigation

SOUTH CAROLINA – The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) continues its crackdown on corruption within the state’s prison system, announcing the arrests of two former staff members accused of bribery, misconduct, and smuggling contraband to inmates.

Shontell Patrice Gamble, 31, a former correctional officer at Turbeville Correctional Institution, and Antoinette Briana Crawley, 33, a former nurse assistant at Lee Correctional Institution, were arrested and charged in two separate cases that highlight the growing security concerns inside South Carolina’s prison system.

SCDC officials stated that these arrests are part of their zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, emphasizing that employees who violate the law will face prosecution. “If you commit crimes at SCDC, you will be arrested and held accountable,” the agency posted on social media following the arrests.

Turbeville Correctional Officer Arrested for Bribery and Contraband Scheme

Gamble, of Manning, is facing charges of accepting bribes and misconduct in office after an SCDC investigation revealed she was communicating with an inmate using an illegal cellphone and receiving money in exchange for favors. She was immediately fired upon her arrest.

Illegal cellphones have become a major security crisis in South Carolina prisons, allowing inmates to conduct criminal enterprises from behind bars, including drug trafficking, fraud, and violent crimes. Despite repeated efforts to jam signals inside prison walls, the problem persists due to corrupt staff smuggling the devices in exchange for cash bribes.

The arrest of Gamble underscores a deeper issue of corruption within the SCDC, as investigators continue to expose employees who facilitate illegal activity within the prison system.

Former Lee Correctional Nurse Assistant Arrested for Sexual Misconduct and Drug Smuggling

In a separate case, Antoinette Briana Crawley, of Greenwood, was arrested and charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with an inmate, providing contraband, and criminal conspiracy after authorities say she engaged in a sexual relationship with a prisoner from August 2023 through October 2024.

Crawley, a former nurse assistant at Lee Correctional Institution, is accused of providing the inmate with narcotics, SIM cards, THC gummies, and unauthorized clothing during the illicit relationship.

She resigned in January 2025 before the investigation was completed, but SCDC continued to pursue charges against her, leading to her arrest.

Lee Correctional Institution has long been regarded as one of South Carolina’s most dangerous and corrupt prisons, with previous reports of staff involvement in drug smuggling, contraband rings, and inmate abuse. This latest arrest only adds to the growing list of employees exploiting their positions for personal gain.

The Fentanyl Epidemic and the Role of Corrupt Prison Staff

These arrests come at a time when South Carolina is facing an explosion in fentanyl-related deaths, with prison drug smuggling playing a key role in fueling the crisis.

Authorities believe St. Helena Island in Beaufort County has become a major entry point for fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the state, with cartel-connected networks using coastal access points to distribute highly potent narcotics to both street dealers and prison contraband operations.

CC News Network is actively investigating how drugs are entering South Carolina’s prison system, with sources alleging that corrupt correctional staff are facilitating the influx of fentanyl inside state institutions.

Fentanyl-laced drugs have been responsible for a spike in overdoses behind bars, leading to inmate deaths, violent turf wars, and increased corruption among prison staff willing to smuggle in narcotics for financial gain.

SCDC’s Struggle to Combat Prison Corruption

While the recent arrests are a step in the right direction, SCDC’s ongoing corruption problems raise serious concerns about the integrity of South Carolina’s prison system.

With correctional officers and medical staff frequently caught engaging in bribery, sexual relationships with inmates, and drug smuggling, the department must implement stronger measures to prevent corruption before it happens.

Possible solutions include:
✔ Increased pay for correctional officers to reduce financial incentives for bribery
✔ Randomized staff drug testing and contraband searches
✔ Mandatory body cameras for correctional officers
✔ Increased use of AI surveillance to track prison communications
✔ Stronger prosecution of corrupt staff members, including mandatory prison time for those convicted

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps

Both Gamble and Crawley will face prosecution, with the burden of proof resting on the state to establish their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

SCDC has made it clear that any employee found engaging in misconduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and more arrests could be on the way as investigations into corruption continue.

Final Thoughts

The arrests of Gamble and Crawley are just the latest examples of the systemic corruption that plagues South Carolina’s prison system. As fentanyl continues to flood into prisons and the St. Helena Island drug pipeline remains a growing concern, CC News Network will continue its in-depth investigation into the role prison staff play in fueling this crisis.

For more on this Broken Badges Series, follow CC News Network on X, TikTok, and Facebook, and tune in to 97.7 FM WVFF in the Lowcountry for breaking news updates.

If you have tips regarding misconduct in South Carolina’s correctional system, contact CC News Network

James Seidel – Publisher, Journalist, Author. Investigator, Podcaster, Radio Talk Show Host, and Music Producer.