A correctional officer was sentenced on March 11 to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, according to U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
The sentencing of Martel Devante Gilliam, age 22 and from Beaumont, highlights ongoing efforts to address illegal drug activity within correctional facilities. The case underscores the risks posed by contraband entering prisons and the importance of law enforcement initiatives targeting such crimes.
Court information showed that Gilliam, who worked at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont, was identified as a source of illegal drugs at the facility in March 2024. On March 8, after reporting to work, a canine alerted authorities to narcotics on Gilliam’s vehicle during an open-air sniff. A subsequent search uncovered approximately 125 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of cocaine, 459 grams of synthetic marijuana, vacuum-sealed packages containing tobacco and marijuana, $5,700 in cash, and a pistol.
Gilliam pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and received a sentence of 120 months from U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The investigation involved the FBI, Bureau of Prisons, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James prosecuted the case.
