Coastal State Prison Employee Arrested in Contraband Scheme

Garden City, GA (BuzzReport) — A corrections employee entrusted with maintaining order inside a state prison is now facing serious criminal charges himself.

Authorities say a Coastal State Prison worker was arrested late last night following an investigation into illegal activity involving inmates at the facility. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 27-year-old Michael Shawn Cole.

According to investigators, Cole is accused of unlawfully trading items with inmates without the consent of the prison warden. He also faces charges for giving inmates prohibited items or possessing such items on their behalf, as well as violation of oath by a public officer, a charge that underscores the alleged breach of public trust.

Sheriff’s officials say Cole also allegedly lied during the investigation, further compounding the seriousness of the accusations.

Coastal State Prison, located in Garden City near the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, is a medium-security facility that houses adult male felons. The prison plays a critical role in regional public safety, and any compromise of its security protocols is taken seriously by law enforcement.

Authorities have not disclosed what items were allegedly exchanged or how long the activity may have been occurring. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges could be possible.

Cole was taken into custody and booked into the Chatham County jail. He is expected to appear before a judge in the coming days.

BuzzReport will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.