ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) – Authorities in Carter County have detained a man from Memphis, alleging his involvement in a scheme to smuggle drugs into a state prison, as detailed in a statement from the Carter County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
Michael Jerome Flowers, aged 30, faced arrest on Friday after a collaborative sting operation initiated in May. This operation involved the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the CCSO, according to the sheriff’s office release.
Flowers is facing multiple charges, including:
- 1 count of criminal conspiracy
- 1 count of bribery of a public servant
- 3 counts of attempted introduction of contraband into a penal facility
- 1 count of possession of methamphetamine for resale
- 1 count of possession of Schedule II drugs for resale (Fentanyl)
- 1 count of possession of Schedule III drugs for resale
As reported by the CCSO, the case originated in May when an inmate at the Northeast Correctional Complex allegedly attempted to corrupt a correctional officer by offering money in exchange for smuggling narcotics into the prison. The inmate reportedly contacted the officer via text message to propose the bribery.