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Buss claimed he believed the package only contained tobacco and had no knowledge of the fentanyl and meth. District Attorney General Jason Lawson argued that Buss had full knowledge of the contents of the package and willingly smuggled it into the prison.

During the sentencing hearing, Lawson called the pre-sentence investigation officer, the arresting officer from the Trousdale County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and the officer at Trousdale Turner who detected the smuggling to the stand. Prosecutors showed pictures of the drugs and a photograph of Buss removing the drugs from inside his pants, attached with tape.

Buss claimed he has a lower IQ and was taken advantage of by individuals who solicited him to smuggle the packages into the prison. Judge Kane found that IQ was not a sufficient excuse for the commission of the crime, as Buss knew the drugs were prohibited in the prison and so hid them as he went to his shift.

鈥淭he message is that if you wish to smuggle drugs into the prison, you are going to find yourself behind bars serving your own sentence,鈥� Lawson said.

According to the District Attorney鈥檚 office, nearly six prison employees are indicted for bringing drugs or cell phones into the prison each year. Other employees are also indicted for allowing inmates to use contraband cell phones, regardless of whether that employee smuggled the phone into the prison or not.

This is the latest in a string of events surrounding Trousdale Turner. Nearly two weeks ago, a riot broke out at the prison, leading to 41 indictments of prisoners and one employee. Other incidents of misconduct have also been alleged at the facility.

鈥淧eople sometimes ask the question of when some of the guards will be indicted for their activities. The fact of the matter is that everyone caught is charged and prosecuted,鈥� Lawson said. 鈥淎ny person who we can prove plays a knowing part in the criminal activity occurring at the prison should be on notice that they are subject to being arrested and prosecuted.鈥�

Lawson and other elected officials in the area called for the state to take over operations of Trousdale Turner Correctional Center earlier this month. The facility is currently operated by private company CoreCivic.