Former Shelby County Division of Corrections Investigator Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bribery

Memphis, TN - A federal judge has sentenced Deon Scott, 41, a former Internal Affairs Investigator for the Office of Professional Standards for the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections to federal prison for bribery. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Scott smuggled contraband into the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections, a facility which houses federal inmates, while employed as an Internal Affairs Investigator at the facility. Scott received at least $3,200 as payment for his unlawful conduct. Scott was immediately terminated from his position.

On November 17, 2025, Scott pled guilty to a one count information alleging that as a public official, he accepted money in exchange for smuggling contraband items, including narcotics, into the Shelby County Division of Corrections. On May 8, 2026, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Scott to a total of 18 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Official misconduct and corruption by correctional officers in positions of trust and authority undermine the foundational integrity of our government institutions and compromise the safety and security of correctional facilities. This sentence will hopefully deter other corrupt behavior, restore the public's faith in honest officers, and send a message that nobody is above the law."

The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the United States Secret Service (USSS).

Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Greg Wagner and former Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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