U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe | U.S. Department of Justice
Vernell Syrethia Lawson, a former Miami-Dade Correctional Officer, and Gabrielle Nicole Bess-Mills appeared in court following an indictment related to a criminal enterprise. The indictment alleges that Terrance Carter led a drug trafficking organization involving the corruption of Lawson and other officers to distribute narcotics within Miami-Dade County jail facilities.
The charges against Lawson and Bess-Mills include possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, conspiracy, and racketeering through bribery and drug trafficking. Lawson faces additional charges of Hobbs Act extortion. Carter is charged with operating the criminal enterprise and using interstate facilities for violence related to racketeering.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida along with several law enforcement officials from different agencies involved in the investigation.
A Task Force formed by the Miami-Dade Police and Corrections Departments led the investigation, supported by federal, state, and local partners. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Corrections also contributed significantly.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ignacio J. Vázquez, Jr., Trial Attorney Melanie G. Wegner, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda are prosecuting this case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Information about corruption can be reported to the FBI Miami Area’s Task Force or the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust.
Court documents are available on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida under case number 24-cr-20543.
