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6 indicted for allegedly conspiring to kill officers at Georgia detention centers
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6 indicted for allegedly conspiring to kill officers at Georgia detention centers

ATLANTA (AP) — Six people, including a Georgia detention center officer and several members of the GoodFellas gang, have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to kill two of the officer’s colleagues in exchange for money and other drug-related crimes and firearms, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Latasha Baker, 38, of Hampton, Ga., served time at the Fulton County Jail, and Matthew Freeman, 36, of Glennville, Ga., was serving time for armed robbery at Valdosta State Prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of northern Georgia. said in a press release. The two allegedly agreed with pretrial inmate Wayne Alford, 27, of Milledgeville, to hire and pay people to kill at least two corrections officers who intervened in Alford’s drug smuggling and trafficking operations , prosecutors said.

The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to questions about Baker’s employment status. The conspirators communicated using contraband cell phones from inside the jail and prison.

According to the news release, Carlos Pearson, 33, of College Park, and Jayden Barnes, 19, of Atlanta, allegedly agreed to commit the murders for $1,000 each.

The plot was foiled when the targeted detention officers found tracking devices attached to the bottom of their vehicles.

A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on Oct. 22, which was unsealed Monday.

“It is unthinkable and deplorable that one of our detention officers would conspire to have one or more of his colleagues killed,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat. “This indictment underscores the serious nature of the allegations and the importance of accountability. We must ensure that those entrusted with public safety uphold the highest standards of conduct, and any breach of that trust will be dealt with swiftly.”

Alford, Freeman and Baker were each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for pay, one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a trafficking offense of drugs.

Jaheim Arnold, 21, of Atlanta, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense and one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Pearson and Barnes were each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder on their own.

“These defendants demonstrated a callous disregard for human life when they allegedly conspired to kill detention officers who threatened their illegal drug and contraband activity at the Fulton County Jail,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in -a statement.

“No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their lives simply because they are performing their sworn duties,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are extremely grateful that this plot was foiled before any harm came to any of the individuals targeted.”