ATLANTA (AP) — Six people, including a Georgia detention center officer 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 other crimes related to drugs and firearms. , 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 time for armed robbery at Valdosta State Prison, he said. the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. he said in a press 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 drug trafficking and smuggling operations, they said. the prosecutors.

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

The plot was foiled when arresting officers found tracking devices attached to 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 kill one or more of his co-workers,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat. “This indictment underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of accountability. We must ensure that those entrusted with public safety meet the highest standards of conduct, and any breach of that trust will be met with swift justice.”

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 conspired to murder detention officers who threatened their illegal drug and contraband activity at the Fulton County Jail,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan in a statement.

“No law enforcement officer should fear for his or her life simply because he or she is carrying out his or her sworn duties,” said Sean Burke, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Atlanta. “We are very grateful that this plot was foiled before any of the targeted individuals could come to harm.”

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