NATIONAL NEWS

An inmate on trial with rapper Young Thug is now accused in a jailhouse bribery scheme

Oct 9, 2024, 3:47 PM

ATLANTA (AP) — Five people including an inmate connected to Atlanta rapper Young Thug are under arrest as part of an investigation into bribery and contraband circulating at the Fulton County detention center, Georgia authorities told local media outlets.

One of the people accused is former Fulton County detention center guard Karmen Bailey. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office told news outlets Tuesday that Bailey, 31, was arrested Oct. 4 on four counts of violating the oath of a public officer, two counts of bribery, and two counts of obtaining, procuring or giving inmates prohibited items. Bailey is being held on $80,000 bond, records show. It was unknown if she has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

The former guard is accused of accepting more than 20 payments worth $17,000 from family members of inmates she was supposed to be supervising, including from relatives of Marquavius Huey, one of six defendants on trial with rapper Young Thug in a long-running gang and racketeering case.

Jury selection began in January 2023 in the racketeering case against the rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and other alleged members of the YSL organization, which prosecutors contend is an Atlanta-based gang responsible for the murders of at least three people.

Defense attorneys have said their clients are innocent and that YSL is simply the name of Williams’ record label.

According to investigators, cell phone records show Bailey took bribes from Huey’s mother, Malissa Huey, 45; and sister, Jermiyah Huey, 18. Malissa and Jermiyah Huey were both arrested and charged with one count of bribery each, WAGA-TV reported. Marquavious Huey and fellow inmate Osama Manuel face additional charges of possessing prohibited items, according to the television station.

Bailey began working at the jail in September 2023 and resigned this year amid the investigation.

In a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Huey’s attorney, Careton Matthews, said his client has been in custody for nearly three years.

“Unfortunately, it has become all too common that we hear about allegations of corruption, bribery and violations of oath of office by some of the men and women responsible for housing and securing those individuals who are in custody within the Fulton County Jail,” he said.

“Our client, Mr. Huey, has been in continuous custody since December 2021; and is cloaked with the presumption of innocence as to all of these recent allegations,” Matthews continued. “We plan to litigate this case in the courtroom; where all issues of proof will be zealously tested.”

National News

FILE - Boxes of petitions for proposal aimed at blocking a planned casino are delivered to the Capi...

Associated Press

Lawsuit filed over measure approved by Arkansas voters that revoked planned casino’s license

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Cherokee Nation Entertainment on Friday filed a lawsuit challenging a constitutional amendment Arkansas voters approved this week that revokes its license for a planned casino in the state. The lawsuit filed in federal court claims the measure approved by voters on Tuesday violates its constitutional rights, and seeks to block […]

2 minutes ago

Associated Press

Ex-sheriff in Mississippi is convicted of bribery and giving ammunition to a felon

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A former sheriff in Mississippi’s largest county was convicted Friday on federal charges of soliciting bribes and providing ammunition to a convicted felon. Marshand Crisler was interim sheriff of Hinds County for part of 2021, after the death of the elected sheriff, Lee Vance. He was solicited and accepted thousands of […]

44 minutes ago

Associated Press

Parked vehicle with gas cylinders explodes on NYC street, damaging homes and cars, officials say

NEW YORK (AP) — A parked SUV containing gas cylinders and other flammable materials exploded on a residential street in New York City on Friday, damaging homes, other vehicles and overhead power lines, fire officials said. Deputy Fire Chief George Healy said at a news conference at the scene of the explosion in the city […]

52 minutes ago

FILE - Asylum seekers arrive at the Roosevelt Hotel on Friday, May 19, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo...

Associated Press

Judge says New York can’t use ‘antiquated, unconstitutional’ law to block migrant buses from Texas

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City can’t use an unconstitutional, two-century-old “anti-pauper” law to block the state of Texas from offering migrants free bus rides to the city from the southern border, a state judge has ruled. The court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Mayor Eric Adams in January against charter bus […]

1 hour ago

Muhlenberg County, Ky, Judge-Executive Mack McGehee speaks Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Greenville, Ky,...

Associated Press

Army says the US will restart domestic TNT production at plant to be built in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Army awarded a $435 million contract on Friday to build a TNT production plant in western Kentucky that will become the first domestic source for the explosive material in decades, officials said. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a key player in securing the funding, said the new facility in […]

1 hour ago

Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman talks to reporters Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, after an officer fi...

Associated Press

Officer responding to domestic disturbance fires weapon; woman and child are dead in Missouri suburb

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A woman and a child are dead after an officer fired a weapon while responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Missouri. “Heartbreaking” is how Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman described it at a news conference Friday. He said the woman was armed […]

2 hours ago

An inmate on trial with rapper Young Thug is now accused in a jailhouse bribery scheme