Texas prison officer accused of bringing synthetic-cannabis paper to inmate

A Nigerian correctional officer in Texas has been arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle drug-treated paper into the prison where he worked, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Michael Ademoye, 28, was arrested after authorities said he entered the Wynne Unit carrying more than four grammes of paper treated with synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as K2. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the department said Ademoye told investigators that he planned to deliver the paper to a specific inmate and had already been paid.

The material was allegedly intended to enter the prison through his position as a correctional officer. Ademoye, a resident of Huntsville, is facing charges related to drug manufacturing or delivery and bribery, the department said. Walker County jail records listed bonds of $100,000 for the drug charge and $50,000 for the bribery charge.

The source material did not state whether he had entered a plea or identify the inmate who was allegedly due to receive the paper. It also did not provide details about the circumstances of his arrest beyond the department’s account. Employment records showed that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice recruited Ademoye in April 2025.

His arrest came after the prison had publicly praised him and six other cadets for their dedication, commitment and adaptation to their roles. The department’s statement did not indicate whether the other cadets were connected to the investigation. The allegations against Ademoye remain the basis of the charges reported by the department; the supplied material does not include a court finding on the case.