A former DeKalb County correctional officer faces charges of smuggling contraband into the jail after being named in a sealed indictment on April 4.

Francisco Rodriguez, 24, was indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury last week after an investigation by the sheriff’s department allegedly revealed that Rodriguez had taken money from inmates to smuggle tobacco and other contraband to their cells. The former officer is charged with official misconduct and introduction of contraband.

Rodriguez had reportedly been employed as a correctional officer at the sheriff’s department for six months when Sheriff Patrick Ray terminated in December.  Ray said the results of an internal investigation led to Rodriguez’ firing and indictment.

“This last December, I obtained information of one of the correctional officers putting small amounts of tobacco and other items into a cell area at the DeKalb County Jail,” the sheriff told the Review. “This correctional officer was identified as Francisco Rodriquez. Rodriquez started with the department approximately six months prior to this investigation.  The background check that was conducted on him had positive recommendations from people here in DeKalb County.” 

Ray said he brought the district attorney on board and launched an investigation.

“As soon as this information about Rodriquez was given to me, I immediately notified my detectives to start an internal investigation into this matter. I also contacted the District Attorney’s Office and obtained consent for my department to proceed with the internal investigation,” the sheriff said. “During the course of the investigation, my detectives did an outstanding job with their investigative work. They conducted surveillance, obtained four search warrants, and interviewed multiple people in connection with the investigation. The detectives were also able to obtain information that Rodriquez had placed a cell phone into one of the cells where he could have secret conversations with inmates and set up drops of tobacco and other items for this particular cell.  The cell phone was recovered in a cell area of the jail. The Detectives also found that Rodriquez received money to perform these actions. As a result of the internal investigation, I terminated Francisco Rodriquez on December 23, 2015.

Ray said that law-enforcement officials who break the public trust will not be tolerated under his administration.

“Sometimes people step over the line of the law,” the sheriff said. “This was a person of trust and authority. I have served in many positions in my 27 years of law enforcement. I personally believe all of us in law enforcement are held to a higher standard,” he continued.

“In saying this, let me be clear. I am proud of my department and all of the employees that work here. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior that deflects from the professionalism and trust that we are trying to achieve. I will prosecute this offense to the fullest extent of the law,” Ray concluded  

Rodriguez’ bond was set at $20,000, and he was arraigned in crimin