A pair of Lexington woman have been reported involved in illegal drug cases.

• Cinnamon Demetria Chantell Towns, 29, is charged with smuggling drugs into the Graham Correctional Institution on Broad River Road in Columbia where she works as a guard.

• Ashley Shay Cook, 38, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

The SC Department of Corrections Office of Investigations and Intelligence released the arrest warrants for Towns, a correctional officer at the women’s prison.

Towns is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine more than 28 grams, furnishing contraband to a prisoner, criminal conspiracy and misconduct in office.

Her charges involve bringing 2 packages of meth into the prison hidden in a fast food container.

The high security women’s prison houses up to 489 inmates who have violent criminal histories.

Inmates are closely monitored and secured by double perimeter fences with electronic surveillance.

Drug sales

Cook pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, acting United States Attorney Rhett Dehart said.

On Dec. 21, 2018, Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies went to Cook’s home in search of a wanted person.

After she let them search her home, deputies discovered about 241 grams of methamphetamine, 2 grams of cocaine, baggies used to package drugs for sales and digital scales.

After waiving her Miranda rights, Cook admitted to possessing the drugs and making drug sales.

Cook was on probation.

10-year sentence

US District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Cook to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 48 months of supervision.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies.

The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods that aims to reduce violent crimes.