Federal inmate and Alabama correctional officer sentenced for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into federal prison

ATLANTA – Julius Stoudemire and Jennifer Deramus have each been sentenced after their convictions for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into United States Penitentiary Atlanta (“USP Atlanta”), a federal prison. 

“Introducing contraband into a federal prison endangers the safety and security of inmates, guards, and visitors alike,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “Jennifer Deramus, a correctional officer, was uniquely positioned to know those dangers and now faces significant prison time of her own.”

“Maintaining the secure environment of federal correctional facilities is key to the safety of staff, inmates, and the effort to deter future criminal conduct”, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the vigilant guards at USP Atlanta, Stoudemire and Deramus will be held accountable for their blatant criminal activity.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In June 2019, Jennifer Deramus was a long-time correctional officer at a county jail in Prattville, Alabama.  Her fiancée, Julius Stoudemire, was an inmate at USP Atlanta.  On June 2, 2019, Deramus visited Stoudemire at USP Atlanta.  After she went to the visitors’ restroom in the general population visiting room, she carried a cylindrical package to her seat across from Stoudemire.  A guard watching the visitation area from a surveillance camera saw Deramus and Stoudemire acting unusually and sent another guard to investigate.  Guards confiscated the package, and subsequent laboratory testing confirmed that the package contained methamphetamine.  Deramus later made false statements to an FBI Agent about the events of that day.   

Jennifer Deramus, 53, of Prattville, Alabama, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.  On November 15, 2021, she was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, attempting to provide a prohibited object to a federal inmate, and aiding and abetting a federal inmate’s attempt to obtain a prohibited item. 

Julius Stoudemire, 45, of Prattville, Alabama, was sentenced by Judge Grimberg to nine years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  On November 5, 2021, Stoudemire pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to obtain a prohibited object as a federal inmate.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tal C. Chaiken and Phyllis Clerk prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.