PARCHMAN WORKERS ARRESTED

Investigators arrested two Mississippi Department of Corrections employees
for extortion and conspiracy to introduce contraband at the Mississippi
State Penitentiary in Parchman.

MDOC Internal Audit Division investigators arrested correctional officer
trainees Johnathan A. Cox of Ruleville on June 6, and Terry B. Thomas of
Greenwood on June 9.

Cox bonded out of the Sunflower County Jail in Indianola on the day of
their arrests, and Thomas bonded out on June 10. Both men were held there
on $10,000 bonds.

"The grand jury will consider the charges whenever it meets," said
Sunflower County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Austin. "I'm not really sure
(when), probably in August."

Investigators say Cox received $2,000 from the bank account of Mickey Ray
Smith, a 6foot 3 inch, 225-pound homicide offender who was sentenced to
life in prison in Jackson County in 1977. Cox received the money through
Smith's attorney under an agreement to bring a portion of it into the
prison; instead, Cox kept the money, investigators said.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Thomas, who is accused of
receiving $600 from Smith's bank account. Investigators say Thomas
conspired with Smith to use the money to smuggle marijuana into the prison,
but instead he kept the money.

Cox has been an employee at the Mississippi State Penitentiary since July
2002. Thomas has been employed there since November.

Neither man had telephone listings available.

"Violation of the public's trust and criminal activity by MDOC staff will
not be tolerated," said Commissioner Chris Epps. "As long as this element
is present, we will diligently continue to arrest and bring these violators
to justice."

Extortion carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and up to a
$5,000 fine. Conspiracy to introduce contraband carries a maximum sentence
of 15 years imprisonment and up to a $25,000 fine.

The investigation is ongoing and may lead up to additional arrests, MDOT
officials said.