Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson looks at a collection of confiscated drones, often used to smuggle contraband such as cellphones into prisons, outside Broad River Correctional Institution on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
COLUMBIA — A South Carolina prison guard, inmate and three relatives of the inmate pleaded guilty Wednesday to wire fraud in a bribery case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lowanda Atkinson, a 52-year-old guard at Lee Correctional Institution, accepted more than $550,000 from inmate Jason Brown and his relatives over the course of nearly five years, according to prosecutors. In exchange, Atkinson smuggled cell phones, tobacco and drugs into the prison, which inmates sold.
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Atkinson spent the money on luxuries such as plastic surgery and an SUV, according to prosecutors.
“Atkinson’s scheme is an example of law enforcement corruption, and we will not tolerate that in South Carolina,” U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling, former prisons director for the state, said in a news release.
Mary Ann Hickman Brown, the inmate’s mother; Christopher Hickman, his brother; and Adrianna Conyers, his nephew’s mother, all pleaded guilty to bribing Atkinson as well.
Brown was serving a 25-year sentence for a murder conviction, along with 10 years for arson and five for grand larceny, according to inmate records.
Each of the five people faces up to 20 years in prison, plus three years of supervised release and up to $250,000 in fines. Sentencing will come at a later date.
“This person took advantage of the trust given to her and conspired with inmates and their families to flood our prison with deadly contraband,” prisons director Joel Anderson said in a news release. “I’m glad they are all being held accountable for their crimes.”
Another inmate and friend were charged with wire fraud related to the case. Their cases are still pending.
Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
