A Florida detention deputy is in hot water after he was caught selling "cannabis-laced brownies" to inmates at the jail where he worked.
Deputy Terry Bradford Jr. was taken into custody after he arrived at the Faulkenburg Jail on Wednesday with more than a pound of marijuana edibles that were individually packed for sale, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
"Do I think this is his first rodeo?" No. I don't," Chronister said during a news conference on Thursday. "We already know there's at least a second time involving brownies. We also believe there was other contraband he was being compensated to bring into the facility as well."
Bradford, 25, is accused of making "a few thousand dollars" from selling the marijuana-infused treats.
"They use a cash app, called CashApp, and this money can be wired right into this deputy's account," Chronister said, adding that detectives are still trying to determine how long Bradford had been selling the edibles. He's been employed by the department for about a year-and-a-half.
"Does this include other deputies? Does this include other transactions? We're just not sure right now," Chronister said. "We're still trying to find out, did he make this? Did he purchase this from another individual? Who was manufacturing this? How potent was this? How dangerous was this cannabis-induced perishable? We don't know."
Bradford is believed to have exploited a department policy that allows employees working 12-hour shifts to bring their own food into the facility.
"It certainly makes it easier to get into the detention facility," Chronister said. "We know at least twice he's brought cannabis-induced brownies into the detention facility."
A "source" tipped off authorities about the illegal activity, mentioning a large order that Bradford was set to bring in Wednesday. It's not clear if that source was an employee or an inmate.
"When he came to work, once he got inside the detention facility, he met with this jail intelligence squad along with our command staff and had a lot of explaining to do," Chronister said. "It's surprising that this individual would have this type of greed and would betray his oath and trust."
Bradford has been charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility and possession of a controlled substance.
"Terry Bradford has lost his right to have a career in law enforcement, and I'll ensure that that happens," Chronister said. "We will make sure that he feels the full weight of the criminal justice system."
A number of inmates are also expected to receive additional charges connected to the case.
"Think about the dangers that this creates. It turns into gambling. It turns into violence -- and that violence, where's it going to start? It's going to start by one of our deputy sheriffs getting hurt," Chronister said.
More information is expected to be released in a couple of weeks as the case remains under investigation.
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