A South Carolina correctional employee is facing charges after investigators say she attempted to sneak flashy dental jewelry into a state prison in a scheme tied to the filming of a rap video.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) announced that 36-year-old Sharon Elizabeth “Big Money” Smith was arrested on September 10 and charged with criminal conspiracy. Smith, who served as a canteen manager at Lee Correctional Institution, was immediately terminated from her position following the arrest.
According to arrest warrants, Smith conspired with others to deliver mouth grillz — custom jewelry worn over teeth and popular in hip-hop culture — to an inmate. Investigators said they discovered roughly $2,500 worth of grillz hidden inside Smith’s vehicle while it was parked on prison property.
Officials did not release details on which inmate was the intended recipient or how the contraband was expected to be used, though sources told investigators it was part of an effort to stage a rap video inside the facility.
The SCDC said the case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine whether additional individuals were involved in the scheme.