Aiken County jailer busted for smuggling vapes, THC gummies to inmates

Jaquaime Washington

Date: August 22, 2025

A former Aiken County jailer was arrested Thursday for allegedly sneaking in thousands of dollars’ worth of vapes and THC edibles to inmates while on duty and in uniform.

Jaquaime Washington, 24, of North Augusta, was taken into custody Thursday by agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and charged with furnishing contraband to prisoners and misconduct in office. According to an arrest warrant, Washington brought in approximately 15 to 20 vapes and five to six THC gummy packs, contraband with an estimated value of nearly $3,000.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office launched an internal investigation after learning of the allegations and immediately referred the case to SLED. Washington’s employment was terminated on Nov. 6, 2024.

“The integrity of our office and the safety of our detention facility are of the utmost importance,” said Sheriff Marty Sawyer. “The actions of one individual do not reflect the dedication and professionalism of the men and women who serve our community every day. We will not tolerate misconduct within our ranks, and we will always hold ourselves accountable to the citizens we serve.”

According to the warrant, Washington admitted to the misconduct during interviews with SLED agents, corroborating the evidence gathered during the investigation.

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The Author

Greg Rickabaugh is an award-winning crime reporter in the Augusta-Aiken area with experience writing for The Augusta Chronicle and serving as publisher of The Jail Report. He also owns AugustaCrime.com. Rickabaugh is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina and has appeared on several crime documentaries on the Investigation Discovery channel. He is married with two daughters.

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