A report has revealed that a sheriff from Tennessee has been indicted for making a profit from inmate labor. This is a serious allegation, and if proven, it would be a violation of the law. The report indicates that the sheriff exploited the labor of inmates for his own gain, which is a severe breach of ethics. This revelation is a reminder that the mistreatment of inmates is a significant problem in the United States, and it needs to be addressed promptly. The justice system must ensure that justice is served, and those who exploit the vulnerable are held accountable for their actions.
An investigation revealed that a sheriff in Gibson County had profited from the labor and care of Tennessee inmates. As a result, he has been indicted on various counts.
According to a report released by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, Sheriff Paul Thomas, who has been in the position since 2014, gained profits by utilizing the labor of inmates from Gibson County and the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) to benefit not only himself, but also a group of investors.
The Tennessee sheriff has been indicted for making a profit from inmate labor, according to a report from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.
According to the report, in 2020, Thomas and a group of local investors established the Alliance Group, a trio of for-profit enterprises that provided staffing assistance to nearby businesses, offered housing for current and former inmates in a transitional home, and organized transportation for work release inmates and those who had previously served time and were commuting to and from work.
During the period of February 2020 to October 2022, it was discovered by investigators that Thomas had directed a total of $1,417,204.06 in inmate wage fees and deductions towards benefiting the Alliance Group.
Furthermore, it was uncovered during the investigation that Thomas had received a total of $181,644.50 in compensation, payroll benefits, and legal representation services from Alliance. This amount was obtained solely from the labor of inmates.
According to reports, he was said to have a 20% stake in Alliance, but state law banned him from gaining any profits or benefits from the work of inmates.
“Our investigators identified multiple deficiencies within the sheriff’s office that coincided with this scheme,” said Comptroller Mumpower. “We also learned that Sheriff Thomas failed to disclose his ownership interest in Alliance in his annual filings with the Tennessee Ethics Commission and violated his duty to secure and properly guard inmates until they were lawfully discharged.”
According to the report, Thomas had custody of a minimum of 170 inmates who were employed by the Alliance staffing agency during the investigation.
According to the report, Alliance Transportation received a payment of $18 per day for transporting the inmates to and from work. Moreover, the investigation discovered that without proper approval, 82 inmates were permitted to reside at Orchard House, the transitional home, instead of Gibson County jail and were charged $40 per day by Orchard House.
Thomas stands accused not only of mismanaging the finances of Orchard House, but also of deceiving the TDOC by allowing 74 inmates from Gibson County jail to reside there without the required judicial authorization for inmate housing.
The jail’s management system mistakenly believed that the inmates were still housed at the facility, leading to the county receiving $507,273 in reimbursements from TDOC.
According to the report, Thomas went ahead and demanded that the county release the funds to Orchard House, without TDOC’s knowledge or consent. It’s worth noting that the transitional home was not affiliated with the jail or managed by jail staff, and there was no official agreement between the county and Orchard House.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Thomas mishandled the wages of inmates who were working for Alliance. He directed a total of $448,637.09 to be deposited into a personal account owned and controlled by the Alliance Group, which was an inappropriate action.
In May 2024, Paul Thomas faced indictment by both the Davidson and Gibson County Grand Juries on 22 counts that comprised charges of theft, forgery, computer crimes, and official misconduct. This investigation led to the indictment against him.
