Graves County deputy jailer arrested on contraband charges

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

MAYFIELD, Ky., (KBSI) — A Graves County deputy jailer was arrested Friday following an internal investigation that uncovered allegations of contraband being provided to inmates at the Graves County Restricted Custody Center, authorities said.

Graves County Jailer Kelli Elliott reported the findings to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, which launched a criminal investigation. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the deputy jailer’s residence around 3 p.m. Friday, seizing evidence connected to the case.

The deputy jailer was identified as Billy Williams, 51, of Graves County. During an interview, investigators said Williams confessed to providing illegal contraband to inmates and receiving payment from inmates’ family members.

Williams was arrested and taken to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office before being transported to an out-of-county detention center. He was charged with first-degree official misconduct and first-degree promoting contraband.

“It is a huge disappointment to my team and myself if there is ever a discovery that one of our own has violated the law or policy,” Elliott said.

“As soon as something was suspected, my internal investigations team initiated an inquiry. Once that was substantiated, we immediately reported our findings to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office requesting an investigation. Within a matter of 10 hours, the allegations were substantiated by an outside law enforcement agency, and the deputy jailer was arrested. I will hold all staff to the highest standard of professional conduct.”