2 Alabama prison officers arrested on corruption charges
Two state prison officers have been arrested on felony corruption charges.
The Alabama Department of Corrections on Thursday announced the arrests of Eli Charles DeRamus, 33, of Montgomery, and Bunion Thomas, 24, also of Montgomery. Both are charged with use of official position for personal gain.
The pair worked at Elmore Correctional Facility. They have since resigned their positions.
Charging documents said the investigation began when investigators found an inmate with a contraband cell phone. An examination of that phone turned up evidence that ADOC officers were in contact with that inmate – identified in court records as Nontavious Askew.
Records station that DeRamus sold food items to Askew, receiving at least $3,500 from the inmate via Cash App. Thomas, documents show, received $360 from the inmate.
Both officers were taken into custody Jan. 9, and released from the Elmore County Jail on Jan. 10.
“The ADOC continues to combat illegal contraband being introduced to the state’s correctional facilities, whether it is introduced from the inside or the outside,’’ Commissioner John Hamm said in a prepared statement. “There is no place for corrupt personnel at ADOC.”