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Thursday, March 13, 2025

Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office Warns Public About Illegal Money Transfers Involving Inmates

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office is sharing a public service message to let people know that inmates in jails or prisons cannot legally make or move money. Anyone helping with these actions could face serious legal trouble.

This warning comes after an investigation into the death of Dakota McCormick, an inmate at Muskingum County Jail. On May 7, 2024, jail workers found McCormick unresponsive. This led to an additional investigation into drug dealing inside the jail. The probe showed that another inmate, whose case is still active, set up a plan to sell drugs and get money through Cash App using Chantay Dobbins’ account. That money bought the drugs which sadly led to McCormick’s death from a fentanyl overdose.

Proof like jail phone calls, dorm videos, and Cash App records showed the inmate told Dobbins and others to handle money for him. This cash paid for drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, which the inmate had hidden in his body to sneak into the jail. Dobbins, who was dating the inmate and was there when he was arrested on May 3, 2024, for gun and drug charges, admitted to managing the money. She recently said she was guilty of money laundering and is waiting for her punishment.



Public Service Message:

Inmates in any jail or prison can’t legally earn money. Things like smuggling, selling drugs, or prostitution are all against the law. So, it’s illegal to send or get money from an inmate except through the jail’s official commissary system. Using apps like Cash App for this can be a serious crime called money laundering. These actions help illegal activities, like drug sales in jails. The Prosecutor’s Office stresses that people who help inmates move money this way—even if they don’t know the full story—will face aggressive investigation and charges.

In this case, some people, including McCormick’s family, sent money to Dobbins’ Cash App which funded the inmate’s drug deals. The office asks everyone to be careful and only use the jail’s approved commissary accounts for gifts to inmates. Helping with money transfers outside those accounts, even without knowing why, can get you in big legal trouble.

Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said, “This sad case shows how dangerous it can be when people assist with illegal money transactions for inmates. Drug dealing and helping drug dealers takes lives.”

Litle added, “This is just one of many cases we’re working on right now. We’re going after girlfriends, wives, moms, sisters, and others tied to drug dealers in jail. We’ll hold everyone accountable, inside or outside the jail.”

“Find a legal way to earn money.”

The Prosecutor’s Office will keep pursuing charges in this case and others like it. Dobbins’ guilty plea is a clear sign that helping with illegal inmate money transfers will lead to charges like money laundering, conspiracy, and drug trafficking.

Other people who recently admitted guilt for helping inmates with financial transactions include:

• Michelle Lang

• Emily Goodrich

• Sasha Hill

• Heaven Goudlock

• Tondalea Hale

• Jessica Queen

• Vanita McCrae

• Lisa Davis

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