On December 18, Vernell Syrethia Lawson, a former Miami-Dade Correctional Officer, and Gabrielle Nicole Bess-Mills appeared in court following an indictment linked to a criminal enterprise led by Terrance Carter. The indictment accuses Carter of leading a drug trafficking organization that utilized the corruption of Lawson and other correctional officers to introduce narcotics into Miami-Dade County jail facilities.
Lawson and Bess-Mills face charges including possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, and racketeering promotion through bribery and drug trafficking. Lawson is also charged with Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right conspiracy. Carter is accused of operating the criminal enterprise and using interstate facilities for violence in furtherance of racketeering.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida announced these developments alongside Stephanie Daniels from the Miami-Dade Police Department, Sherea Green from the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, FBI Special Agent Jefferey B. Veltri, DEA Special Agent Deanne L. Reuter, and Dr. Judith Bernier from the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust.
The case was investigated by a task force involving the Miami-Dade Police and Corrections Departments with support from federal, state, and local partners aimed at combating drug trafficking in correctional facilities assisted by corrupt officials. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Corrections also contributed significantly.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ignacio J. Vázquez Jr., Trial Attorney Melanie G. Wegner are prosecuting this case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda handles asset forfeiture.
This investigation forms part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation designed to dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a coordinated multi-agency approach.
The indictment contains allegations only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Individuals with information about corruption should contact the FBI's Miami Area Task Force online or reach out to the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics regarding possible ethics violations.
Further court documents can be accessed via the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website under case number 24-cr-20543.