Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Lake County woman, Michelle Nicole Marie Brannon, 36, pleaded guilty on Friday, August 29, 2025, to charges of making a materially false statement to a federal agency and providing contraband to a federal prisoner. The charges stem from an incident where she attempted to smuggle the controlled substance buprenorphine to an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County.
Details of the Incident
According to court records, the incident occurred on April 27, 2025, when Brannon visited her brother, an inmate at the Sumter County facility. As Brannon underwent screening before the visitation, she made a false representation to a correctional officer, denying she had any narcotics in her possession.
Despite her denial, authorities subsequently apprehended Brannon providing her brother with buprenorphine. This substance is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, and federal inmates are strictly prohibited from possessing such drugs within prison facilities.
Legal Proceedings and Penalties
Brannon pleaded guilty to one count of making a materially false statement or representation to a federal agency and one count of providing contraband to a federal prisoner. For each of these offenses, she faces a maximum potential sentence of five years in federal prison.
A specific date for Brannon’s sentencing has not yet been scheduled by the court.
Investigation and Prosecution
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are jointly investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is leading the prosecution efforts on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Significance
This plea underscores the ongoing commitment of federal agencies to prevent the introduction of illicit substances into correctional facilities. It also highlights the efforts to hold individuals accountable for making false statements to law enforcement officials.
