Topline: Two South Carolina correctional officers were indicted in a state grand jury probe alleging unlawful relationships with inmates and dangerous contraband smuggling at Lee Correctional Institution.
Published: April 15, 2026 3:30 pm ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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LEE COUNTY, SC — Two South Carolina correctional officers were indicted in a state grand jury investigation alleging public corruption, unlawful relationships with inmates and the smuggling of dangerous contraband inside Lee Correctional Institution.
The case centers on Niccole Matthews Al-Saddiq and Candace Elizabeth Smith, who authorities say were charged as part of an expanding prison corruption probe known as Clean Sweep.
According to WIS News 10, citing an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, the South Carolina state grand jury indicted Al-Saddiq and Smith on charges tied to alleged public corruption and contraband smuggling at the Lee County prison.
Authorities said bond will be set for both defendants once they are apprehended.
The attorney general’s office said the indictments followed a multijurisdictional investigation involving cooperation among several law enforcement agencies in the region.
The charges grew out of the state grand jury investigation known as Clean Sweep, which authorities said has now produced six indictments involving 14 defendants. Officials said the charges against Al-Saddiq and Smith are the most recent to emerge from the probe.
One indictment alleges official misconduct connected to unlawful relationships between correctional officers and inmates, according to the attorney general’s office. Authorities said the allegations include one correctional officer secretly “marrying” an inmate who was under her supervision and whom she was responsible for securing and guarding.
Officials said the allegations against the two correctional officers also include corrupting their office and aiding and abetting the smuggling of dangerous contraband to inmates at Lee Correctional Institution.
“The State Grand Jury at the Attorney General’s Office continues to work closely with SLED and SCDC to fight allegations of corruption in the prison system,” Wilson said in a statement released with the indictments.
S.C. Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson said the accused former officers’ conduct was a betrayal of the agency’s trust.
“These former officers violated the trust SCDC puts in its officers,” Anderson said. “Their behavior is not characteristic of our agency or the people who work in our department.”
The case was investigated by the state grand jury with assistance from the attorney general’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The prosecutions will be handled by Assistant Deputy Attorney General David Fernandez, Special Assistant Attorney General Margaret Boykin Scott and State Grand Jury Division Chief Creighton Waters.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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2 Lee Correctional Officers Indicted in South Carolina Prison Corruption Probe
Two South Carolina correctional officers were indicted in a state grand jury probe alleging unlawful relationships with inmates and dangerous contraband smuggling at Lee Correctional Institution.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 15, 2026 3:30 pm ET
LEE COUNTY, SC — Two South Carolina correctional officers were indicted in a state grand jury investigation alleging public corruption, unlawful relationships with inmates and the smuggling of dangerous contraband inside Lee Correctional Institution.
The case centers on Niccole Matthews Al-Saddiq and Candace Elizabeth Smith, who authorities say were charged as part of an expanding prison corruption probe known as Clean Sweep.
According to WIS News 10, citing an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, the South Carolina state grand jury indicted Al-Saddiq and Smith on charges tied to alleged public corruption and contraband smuggling at the Lee County prison.
Authorities said bond will be set for both defendants once they are apprehended.
The attorney general’s office said the indictments followed a multijurisdictional investigation involving cooperation among several law enforcement agencies in the region.
The charges grew out of the state grand jury investigation known as Clean Sweep, which authorities said has now produced six indictments involving 14 defendants. Officials said the charges against Al-Saddiq and Smith are the most recent to emerge from the probe.
One indictment alleges official misconduct connected to unlawful relationships between correctional officers and inmates, according to the attorney general’s office. Authorities said the allegations include one correctional officer secretly “marrying” an inmate who was under her supervision and whom she was responsible for securing and guarding.
Officials said the allegations against the two correctional officers also include corrupting their office and aiding and abetting the smuggling of dangerous contraband to inmates at Lee Correctional Institution.
“The State Grand Jury at the Attorney General’s Office continues to work closely with SLED and SCDC to fight allegations of corruption in the prison system,” Wilson said in a statement released with the indictments.
S.C. Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson said the accused former officers’ conduct was a betrayal of the agency’s trust.
“These former officers violated the trust SCDC puts in its officers,” Anderson said. “Their behavior is not characteristic of our agency or the people who work in our department.”
The case was investigated by the state grand jury with assistance from the attorney general’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The prosecutions will be handled by Assistant Deputy Attorney General David Fernandez, Special Assistant Attorney General Margaret Boykin Scott and State Grand Jury Division Chief Creighton Waters.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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2 Lee Correctional Officers Indicted in South Carolina Prison Corruption Probe
Two South Carolina correctional officers were indicted in a state grand jury probe alleging unlawful relationships with inmates and dangerous contraband smuggling at Lee Correctional Institution.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 15, 2026 3:30 pm ET
LEE COUNTY, SC — Two South Carolina correctional officers were indicted in a state grand jury investigation alleging public corruption, unlawful relationships with inmates and the smuggling of dangerous contraband inside Lee Correctional Institution.
The case centers on Niccole Matthews Al-Saddiq and Candace Elizabeth Smith, who authorities say were charged as part of an expanding prison corruption probe known as Clean Sweep.
According to WIS News 10, citing an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, the South Carolina state grand jury indicted Al-Saddiq and Smith on charges tied to alleged public corruption and contraband smuggling at the Lee County prison.
Authorities said bond will be set for both defendants once they are apprehended.
The attorney general’s office said the indictments followed a multijurisdictional investigation involving cooperation among several law enforcement agencies in the region.
The charges grew out of the state grand jury investigation known as Clean Sweep, which authorities said has now produced six indictments involving 14 defendants. Officials said the charges against Al-Saddiq and Smith are the most recent to emerge from the probe.
One indictment alleges official misconduct connected to unlawful relationships between correctional officers and inmates, according to the attorney general’s office. Authorities said the allegations include one correctional officer secretly “marrying” an inmate who was under her supervision and whom she was responsible for securing and guarding.
Officials said the allegations against the two correctional officers also include corrupting their office and aiding and abetting the smuggling of dangerous contraband to inmates at Lee Correctional Institution.
“The State Grand Jury at the Attorney General’s Office continues to work closely with SLED and SCDC to fight allegations of corruption in the prison system,” Wilson said in a statement released with the indictments.
S.C. Department of Corrections Director Joel Anderson said the accused former officers’ conduct was a betrayal of the agency’s trust.
“These former officers violated the trust SCDC puts in its officers,” Anderson said. “Their behavior is not characteristic of our agency or the people who work in our department.”
The case was investigated by the state grand jury with assistance from the attorney general’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The prosecutions will be handled by Assistant Deputy Attorney General David Fernandez, Special Assistant Attorney General Margaret Boykin Scott and State Grand Jury Division Chief Creighton Waters.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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