A former correctional officer who attempted to walk into the Dyer County Jail carrying a stockpile of high-grade narcotics in his waistband has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison.
Tyrell Wallace learned his fate on Monday, December 29, 2025, following an investigation that exposed a significant breach of security from within the facility’s own ranks. U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson handed down a sentence of 120 months of incarceration, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The case dates back to October 24, 2024, when investigators intercepted Wallace as he reported for his shift. During an administrative search, authorities discovered a significant cache of contraband concealed inside the guard’s waistband.
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The haul included 165 grams of marijuana, 26 grams of fentanyl, 3 grams of crack cocaine, 8 Suboxone strips, and a Motorola cell phone. Most notably, agents recovered 53 grams of methamphetamine that testing later confirmed was 100% pure.
The search extended to Wallace’s vehicle, where investigators located a loaded 9mm handgun and 40 rounds of ammunition.
Following his arrest, Wallace admitted to agents that he intended to distribute the narcotics to inmates inside the jail. A subsequent forensic examination of the seized phone revealed that this was not an isolated incident, but rather the third time he had successfully smuggled controlled substances into the facility.
“Official misconduct by public officers in positions of trust and authority undermines the foundational integrity of our government institutions and the security of correctional facilities,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant in a statement following the sentencing. “We will root out, expose, and hold accountable those officials who violate their oath for personal gain by introducing illegal narcotics into jails and prisons.”
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Wallace had previously pleaded guilty on September 26, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The investigation was a joint operation between the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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