LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – An arrest report obtained by FOX5 is revealing new details about the Nevada Department of Corrections employee accused of smuggling items to inmates.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigators noted that a confidential informant within the Southern Desert Correctional Center stated that a correctional officer was seen placed cigarettes, lighters, vape pens, tobacco, and liquid spice into a mop bucket. The mop bucket was then observed being picked up by another inmate.
The informant confirmed to investigators that the compromised officer was Lawayne Harbiman. The informant also revealed Harbiman’s CashApp accounts, and that he would meet families of inmates at a Walgreens on Blue Diamond Road and Decatur Boulevard.
Investigators secured a warrant for the CashApp accounts, and confirmed that a total of $28,110 was sent from inmates or people associated with inmates. One transaction appeared to show an active account from a current inmate at NDOC, though the inmate would later reveal that he allowed his information to be used by a different inmate to open the account.
A search warrant was also obtained for Harbiman’s person, vehicle, and residence. Investigators would make contact with Harbiman as he arrived for work at 5:00 a.m., and conduct an interview with him.
Harbiman would tell police that he received money from the families of inmates, but never inmates themselves. When confronted with the number of transactions, he would further admit that he was “a good sports bettor” and would place wagers for inmates, then receive a portion of any winnings.
Harbiman was placed under arrest following the interview.
A search of Harbiman’s residence would yield several phones “packaged in a way that was familiar to investigators as being introduced to a State prison,” along with several similar packages with vape pens, brown and green leafy substances, a small package of what appeared to be methamphetamine.
In a follow-up interview, Harbiman admitted that he had “met with someone” and planned to “smuggle the packages into SDCC.”
Harbiman is facing two counts of accepting a bribe as a public official and six counts of attempting to furnish a portable telecommunication device.
He is due in court for an initial appearance on Wednesday, May 15.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
