6 indicted for allegedly conspiring to kill detention center officers in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) — Six people, including a detention center officer in Georgia and several members of the GoodFellas gang, have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to kill two of the officer’s co-workers in exchange for money, and for other drug and firearm offenses, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Latasha Baker, 38, of Hampton, Georgia, worked at the Fulton County Jail, and Matthew Freeman, 36, of Glennville, Georgia, was serving a sentence for armed robbery at Valdosta State Prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a news release. Those two allegedly agreed with pretrial detainee Wayne Alford, 27, of Milledgeville, to hire and pay people to kill at least two detention officers who had interfered with Alford’s contraband and drug trafficking operations, prosecutors said.

The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to questions about Baker’s employment status. The conspirators communicated using contraband cellphones from inside the jail and prison.

According to the news release, Carlos Pearson, 33, of College Park, and Jayden Barnes, 19, of Atlanta, allegedly agreed to commit the murders for $1,000 each.

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The plot was thwarted when the targeted detention officers found tracking devices attached to the bottom of their vehicles.

A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on Oct. 22, that was unsealed on Monday.

“It is unthinkable and deplorable that one of our detention officers would conspire to have one or more of her co-workers killed,” Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat said. “This indictment underscores the serious nature of the allegations and the importance of accountability. We must ensure that those who are entrusted with public safety adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and any breach of that trust will be met with swift justice.”

Alford, Freeman and Baker each was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of drug trafficking conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Jaheim Arnold, 21, of Atlanta, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of drug trafficking conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

Pearson and Barnes each was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

“These defendants demonstrated a callous disregard for human life when allegedly plotting to murder detention officers who threatened their illegal drug and contraband activity at the Fulton County Jail,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement.

“No law enforcement officer should have to be fearful for their life simply because they are carrying out their sworn duties,” said Sean Burke, acting special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are extremely grateful that this plot was foiled before harm could come to either of the targeted individuals.”