HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. — Two former correctional officers at the Federal Correctional Complex in Forrest City have been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison in unrelated contraband smuggling cases.
U.S. District Judge Brian Miller issued the sentences on Wednesday, according to court documents. Neither officer was fined or placed under supervised release following their prison terms.
Tejuana Dillard, 41, of Wynne, was indicted in June 2024 on charges of bribery of a public official and making false statements. Authorities alleged that Dillard smuggled cigarettes into the prison for two inmates throughout 2020, receiving nearly $92,000 from the inmates’ family members as payment. Investigators said Dillard lied to them about the source of the payments. In March, she pleaded guilty to making a false statement in a matter involving a federal agency.
In a separate case, Robert Cochran, 37, of Forrest City, was indicted in December 2023 on one count of bribery of a public official. Cochran admitted to accepting $58,775 in cash and wire transfers from associates of inmates in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison. The smuggled items reportedly included tobacco, rolling papers, over-the-counter medications, and Gucci sunglasses. He pleaded guilty to the bribery charge in March.
These cases highlight ongoing concerns about contraband smuggling in correctional facilities, an issue that authorities and lawmakers continue to address.