Authorities in Atlanta have arrested a former jail nurse accused of using her medical access to move contraband into one of the city’s most closely watched facilities.
According to records from the Fulton County Jail obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta, 34-year-old Naomi Marie Anthony of Decatur was taken into custody on Thursday, January 15, and charged with a felony count related to providing unauthorized items to inmates.
Investigators say Anthony, who worked as a contracted nurse, allegedly smuggled marijuana, cigarettes, jewelry, and outside food into the jail in exchange for digital payments.
The investigation reportedly began after staff discovered a handwritten note that raised red flags. Authorities say the note outlined a quid pro quo arrangement in which Anthony would bring in specific items—ranging from drugs to takeout meals from popular local eatery American Deli—in return for Cash App transfers.
That discovery prompted a deeper review, including surveillance footage.
According to the arrest warrant, cameras inside the facility captured Anthony handing prohibited items to more than one inmate. Investigators also allege she took deliberate steps to evade security screening, including concealing contraband on her body to bypass entry checkpoints.
Once the allegations were substantiated, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office moved quickly. Anthony was immediately terminated from her position, and officials confirmed she was booked into the same jail where she once worked. Jail records list the charge as “obtaining, procuring, or giving an inmate tobacco products without authorization,” a felony under Georgia law.
In a statement addressing the broader security breach, the Sheriff’s Office said it is upgrading X-ray screening equipment at all jail entrances. Officials noted that the enhanced technology is intended to reduce the risk of contraband slipping through security, regardless of whether the person entering is a visitor, contractor, or employee.
Authorities have not disclosed how much money Anthony is accused of receiving, how long the operation may have been active, or whether other individuals inside or outside the jail were involved.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest that Anthony may have been motivated by a personal relationship with one of the inmates.