Deputies, officers arrest smuggling suspects near WACO prison

Published 12:54 pm Friday, May 16, 2025

SANDERSVILLE, Ga. — An Augusta man and a South Fulton man were jailed after their arrests in separate attempts to smuggle illegal drugs into a state prison in Washington County.

One of the smuggling attempts led to the seizure of seven pounds of marijuana, 309 grams of ecstasy, 29 pounds of tobacco, 37 cellphones and other illegal contraband prohibited in state prisons.

The two incidents happened on Mother’s Day near Washington State Prison near Davisboro, according to Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran.

“Deputies had a busy Mother’s Day, and thanks to strong teamwork with the Georgia Department of Corrections, two more individuals are behind bars,” Cochran said in a press release.

The first incident happened about 7 a.m.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received information that a man carrying several large bags was seen running through a field near the prison, Cochran said.

Deputies, a K9 officer and his dog, with the Georgia Department of Corrections, converged on the scene and began searching for the man.

The dog tracked the man through a nearby wooded area where he was hiding.

Cochran said the man was later identified as 39-year-old Alonzo Holiday of Augusta.

“When the suspect was taken into custody, he was in possession of a shocking amount of contraband,” Cochran said.

Holiday has been charged with Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, trafficking in ecstasy, four counts of items prohibited by inmates, crossing guard lines with narcotics, trading with inmates and criminal trespass.

Holiday remains jailed at the Washington County Law Enforcement Center in Sandersville.

The second attempted smuggling venture at the state prison near Davisboro happened about 11 p.m.

Deputies received information about a man walking and carrying a large backpack near the prison, Cochran said.

Deputies worked alongside officers with the Georgia Department of Corrections to apprehend the suspect.

“Our very own K9 Kenai tracked the suspect and found him,” Cochran said. “The suspect was taken into custody along with the bag he had been carrying.”

Cochran identified the suspect as Jaden Nelson, 18, of South Fulton County.

He, like the other suspect, is accused of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs and other prohibited items into the state prison. He is being held in the Washington County Jail.

Inside the bag, authorities found 13.5 grams of methamphetamine, 122 grams of ecstasy, 60 xanax bars, one pound of marijuana and other assorted items that are banned in state prisons.

Nelson has been charged with five counts of being in possession of items prohibited by the warden, three counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs, Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act for trafficking in ecstasy, crossing guard lines with prohibited items, trading with inmates and criminal trespass.

Cochran said the two arrests were the direct result of what he termed “great work by all involved” in getting such dangerous contraband off the streets and keeping it out of the state prison in Washington County.