A Tennessee sheriff is facing 22 charges in two counties after a state investigation found he allegedly participated in a scheme to profit from inmate labor.
Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas was indicted this week by separate grand juries in Gibson and Davidson Counties, according to the Tennessee Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury.
Gibson County is about 145 miles from Nashville, in northwest Tennessee. It is home to about 50,000 people, according to the most recent census figures.
Thomas has served as sheriff of Gibson County since 2014.
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Thomas faces four charges in Davidson County because they relate to Tennessee Department of Correction inmates, according to John Dunn, spokesperson for the comptroller’s office. The Davidson County charges are one count of theft of property over $60,000, two counts of computer crimes over $60,000, and one count of forgery over $60,000.
Something which is still constitutionally protected when the slaves are prisoners. My bet is that he’s only charged with profiting personally, thereby stealing the profits from the State.
It has to be a part of their punishment. Even the state can’t enslave someone if it is not part of the sentencing.