FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A corrections officer accused of smuggling drugs into the Fulton County Jail spoke exclusively to Channel 2's Mark Winne on Monday.
Officer Adonis Lovejoy has worked at the jail since May.
Col. Mark Adger told Channel 2 Action News that Lovejoy was arrested after he allegedly smuggled five suspected Percocet pills, five suspected Xanax pills, marijuana, lighters and tobacco into the jail early Sunday morning.
"We have him on video with the container of drugs," Adger said. "We intercepted the delivery of the drugs before the inmate could possess the container."
Only Channel 2's Mark Winne went into the former officer's cell to get answers.
"What I did was wrong," Lovejoy told Winne.
"What got to you?" Winne asked.
"Hardship," Lovejoy answered.
"Financial hardship?" Winne asked.
"Yes sir," Lovejoy answered.
"We believe he was paid about $500 for this last delivery," Adger said.
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Adger said Lovejoy faces nine charges so far, including violation of oath, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, bribery and more.
"We've been investigating Detention Officer Lovejoy for the past two weeks," Adger said.
Adger said an intercepted note led to a shakedown of an inmate's cell roughly two weeks ago; the search turned up suspected meth, marijuana and two cellphones, and led to an investigation.
As a result of the investigation, some of Lovejoy's Fulton County Sheriff's Office colleagues were waiting for him when he arrived early Sunday morning, and he was captured on camera with a brown paper bag allegedly containing more contraband.
Adger said he's asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to open a federal investigation. He said he believes a civilian contract employee who works in the jail is also involved as well as other civilians on the outside.
Adger said a manpower shortage may have affected Lovejoy's ability to get past safeguards to bring in what he brought.
He said K-9 searches of every floor began two weeks ago and other measures, including verifying staff members are where they are supposed to be.
Lovejoy has since bonded out of jail.