2 former Jasper Co. prison officers indicted for having a pound of meth in prison
A federal grand jury indicted two former Jasper County prison officers after authorities discovered the men allegedly had about a pound of meth in a bag in the prison.
The grand jury indicted Joseph Corey Bailey, Jr., 29, and Xavier Kaseem Capers, 28, both of Ridgeland, with one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.
They worked at Ridgeland Correctional Institution, a prison known for yearslong problems with contraband involving both prisoners and prison guards.
Bailey and Capers were originally accused by the S.C. Department of Corrections in mid-March after a bag with 454 grams of meth and 368 grams of tobacco was found in a black mesh backpack in Bailey’s work area, according to the department. The state agency charged the two men in March.
A warrant said correctional staff tipped off SCDC that Bailey “entered RCI with contraband in the form of tobacco and a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine.”
Video surveillance showed the two men exchanging the bag of contraband, a SCDC news release said. They were fired after they were arrested, it said.
After the state charged the men, federal prosecutors also pursued charges. The federal grand jury voted to indict on March 23, though it was under seal from the public. They were arrested April 7 on the federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of South Carolina sent a press release on the indictment Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, a reporter contacted Bailey’s attorney, Peter T. Phillips, of Mount Pleasant. A reporter also reached out to Capers’ federal public defender Cody Groeber, who was not available.
Bailey and Capers also face state charges from the S.C. Department of Corrections. They face state charges of trafficking in methamphetamine more than 400 grams, misconduct in office, and criminal conspiracy. Bailey faces an additional charge of providing contraband to a prisoner.
“Correctional officers who break the public trust need to be held accountable,” said Bryan Stirling, director of SCDC, in the Wednesday news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 12:31 PM.
