Former state prison CO guilty of accepting money from inmates - Larry Basford

(This release was updated to update the nature of the charges)

CHIPLEY – A woman working as a correctional officer at the Northwest Florida Reception Center was found guilty Thursday of 10 counts related to accepting money for Official Behavior and using a two-way device to do so , State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Tina Marie Wallace, 50, was found guilty of 5 counts of Unlawful Compensation for Official Behavior, and 5 counts of Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communications Device. The first 5 charges are Second Degree Felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison; the other 5 charges are Third Degree Felonies punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

The jury deliberated for about 2 hours after Washington County Chief Prosecutor Megan Ford presented the case. Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Patterson set sentencing for March 3.

An investigation by the Department of Corrections Officer of Inspector General determined that in September and October of 2022 alone, Wallace received more than $24,000 from inmates, relatives of inmates, or associates of inmates via her CashApp accounts.

“This case was about accountability,” Ford said. “The evidence showed a clear pattern of improper payments, and today’s verdict affirms that public trust cannot be bought.”

Ford called three witnesses to prove her case: DOC Office of Inspector General Inspector Steven Lee, a co-defendant and former correctional officer who worked with Wallace, and a family member of an inmate who thought she was sending money for food.

As Detective Lee began examining the CashApp records he was able to make connections to inmates, inmates’ family members, and inmates’ visitors by cross-referencing CashApp information with DOC records. Eighty-seven transactions occurred from Sept. 1, 2022-Oct. 20, 2022 and well over half of those sending money to Tina Wallace’s CashApp had connections to the Department of Corrections.

Many of the transactions indicated on the subject line it was for the benefit of a certain inmate. Additionally, the State presented evidence that Tina Wallace sent money to known inmates, regularly communicated with inmates on the phone off hours, and was in control of housing and disciplinary reports all during a time when violence and contraband drops were at an all-time high at the facility.

During this period, Tina Wallace transferred the money from the CASHAPP Account to her personal bank account 21 times. The amount transferred over a month-and-a-half was well over half of her yearly salary.

Basford thanked the DOC Office of Inspector General for its thorough investigation that helped lead to guilty verdicts on all counts.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.