2 Okla. Co. Detention Officers Arrested, Accused Of Trying To Smuggle Contraband

Two Oklahoma County detention officers were arrested in connection with a contraband investigation, an Oklahoma County Detention Center spokesman said. 

Smith Akhigbe was arrested on Saturday and Keoni Damas was arrested on Tuesday. Both were arrested on complaints of conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. 

Akhigbe, according to the probable cause affidavit admitted to investigators that he snuck in five “contraband packages” into the jail. Security footage captured the 31-year-old corrections officer hiding the items and later providing it to inmates. 

Akhigbe told authorities he “had been paid a few thousand dollars” to bring in the packages, according to the affidavit. 

The peace officer employed by the county’s Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the jail trust, wrote in the affidavit that “several cell phones, approximately 108 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana and a large amount of tobacco” was found in one of the packages. 

Damas, 23 of Midwest City, denied the allegations of smuggling, according to the affidavit. 

A confidential informant told investigators Damas would package marijuana and tobacco in a mop bucket, which he would give to inmates. Security footage captured one of the exchanges, the affidavit said. 

After speaking with Damas, peace officers searched his car and found written notes with the contact information of one inmate and a lunchbox that contained marijuana and a “brown leafy substance wrapped in plastic.” 

During an interview with the peace officers, Damas “refused to identify who the package was for because the inmate knew where he lived.” 

Both Akhigbe and Damas were fired from their jobs based on the detention center's "zero tolerance" policy for criminal activity by staff adopted by the administration. 

Greg Williams, the administrator of the Oklahoma County Detention Center said they are constantly looking for signs of smuggling in the jail. He said their investigation will not stop with these arrests. 

“I don’t have reason to believe that it’s any bigger than what we’ve already seen, but we will continue to investigate and keep looking at it,” he said.