Six people have been indicted for allegedly plotting to kill detention center officers in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) — Six people, including a Georgia detention center officer and several members of the GoodFellas gang, have been charged with allegedly conspiring to kill two of the officer’s colleagues in exchange for money, as well as other drug and firearms 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 press release. These two allegedly agreed with 27-year-old inmate Wayne Alford of Milledgeville to hire and pay people to kill at least two detention officers who had interfered with Alford’s contraband and drug dealing, prosecutors said.

The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to questions about Baker’s employment status. The conspirators communicated from prison using smuggled cell phones.

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

The plot was foiled when the targeted detention officers found tracking devices on the underside of their vehicles.

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

“It is unthinkable and deplorable that one of our detention officers would conspire to have one or more of her colleagues murdered,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat. “This indictment underlines the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of accountability. We must ensure that those entrusted with public safety adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and any breach of that trust will be swiftly punished.”

Alford, Freeman and Baker were each 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 were each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

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

“No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their lives 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 any harm could occur to any of the targeted individuals.”