Deon Scott, a former Internal Affairs Investigator for the Office of Professional Standards at the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections, was sentenced on May 8 to 18 months in federal prison for accepting bribes. The announcement was made by D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, on May 12.
Scott, age 41, pleaded guilty in November to one count of accepting money as a public official in exchange for smuggling contraband items, including narcotics, into the Shelby County Division of Corrections. According to information presented in court, Scott received at least $3,200 and was immediately terminated from his position after his conduct came to light.
United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman also ordered that Scott serve two years of supervised release following his imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dunavant said: "Official misconduct and corruption by correctional officers in positions of trust and authority undermine the foundational integrity of our government institutions and compromise the safety and security of correctional facilities. This sentence will hopefully deter other corrupt behavior, restore the public’s faith in honest officers, and send a message that nobody is above the law."
The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service, and United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Greg Wagner along with former Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee handles prosecutions of federal crimes and defends civil matters on behalf of the government across Memphis and Jackson offices; its work advances community safety through law enforcement partnerships since its founding in 1803 according to the official website.
