https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2024/07/23/494417/prisoner-accused-of-selling-drug-laced-paper-in-alleged-money-laundering-scheme-at-the-harris-county-jail/

A prisoner, along with two of his relatives, have been charged in connection to an alleged money laundering scheme involving the sale of drug-laced papers inside the Harris County Jail.

Joshua Sinclair Owens, 35, was booked into the jail back in June 2023 after being charged with murder. Over the course of about a year, prosecutors say Owens made nearly $30,000 from selling drug-laced paper to fellow prisoners inside the jail.

That money would be transferred to a Cash App account operated by Owens’ cousin, Nathanael Campbell, and his step-sister, Latvia Armiss Bailey, who both allegedly helped Owens from outside the jail, according to prosecutors. The money would then be fed into Owens’ commissary account, which has since been seized by investigators.

According to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, this was the first time a criminal investigation has led to the seizure of a prisoner’s commissary account — the DA called it “a historic tactic.”

“The commissary is generally used for inmates’ comfort,” Ogg said. “Nothing costs more than a few dollars. So the fact that $30,000 went through this individual’s account, in conjunction with other evidence, forms the basis of these charges.”

Owens is charged with possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility and engaging in organized criminal activity. His relatives are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Smith said investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office first discovered the scheme by listening in on Owens’ phone calls with his relatives. In March, detention officers searched Owens’ cell and found 10 sheets of paper laced with synthetic marijuana.

In an email, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said they’ve “minimized and, in some cases, eliminated the ability to profit from criminal activity while incarcerated.” Last year, the department bolstered its screening process in an effort to reduce the amount of drug-laced paper entering the jail.

“We are constantly assessing our protocols and procedures for enhanced security,” the email read. “With a screening process that includes overt and covert practices, we aim to create a suitable environment for all who live and work in the jail.”

As a result, a defense attorney and a detention officer were both arrested late last year after being accused of smuggling drugs into the jail. Yet, during Tuesday’s press conference, prosecutors said they still didn’t know how Owens got a hold of the drug-laced paper.

DA Ogg suggested implementing a cap on commissary funds, although the sheriff’s office didn’t respond when asked if the department would consider this suggestion.

For now, the investigation is “far from being complete,” ADA Smith said, adding that more charges will likely be filed in the future.