Henrico Jail East inmate, former employee found guilty of conspiring to deliver drugs

An inmate incarcerated at Henrico Jail East in New Kent and a former employee of the jail were found guilty to conspiring to deliver drugs in prison.

William Lamont Braxton, 34, currently of Henrico Jail East, and Amil Griffith, 22, of the 2000 block of Seldendale Drive, Hampton, went before Judge B. Elliott Bondurant as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Braxton entered a guilty plea to the offense while Griffith entered an Alford Plea of Guilty, indicated that while she maintained her innocence, evidence presented in the case would be enough to convict her of the offense.

In a summary of evidence, around May 1 Braxton had approached Griffith, who worked in the jail’s kitchen, about possibly bringing drugs to him while he was incarcerated. An investigation revealed that Braxton had called Griffith several times, giving her directions on how and where to obtain the drugs.

Braxton received a five-year sentence with four years suspended (one year to serve). Griffith received a five-year sentence with all time suspended.

In other circuit court proceedings:

–Cassandra Aliese Grammer, 27, of the 9200 block of Deerlake Drive, received a sentence of ten years to serve with all but one month suspended on a single count of lottery ticket larceny. During a June 12 trial, Grammer accepted the terms of a plea agreement, admitting that while she was employed at Rick’s Stop and Shop, she stole lottery tickets that had at least $13,000 in winnings.

While she has paid most of the restitution, a future hearing will be held to argue additional restitution being requested by the Virginia Lottery in the amount of $9,715.

–Antwan Dante Lewis, 44, of the 3300 block of Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, and Rondell Ladante Orange, 31, of the 400 block of Smith Street, Fredericksburg, entered pleas to different crimes stemming from the same event.

In a summary of evidence, on Apr. 14, a Virginia State Police trooper was operating radar at approximately 3:47 p.m. when he noticed a white Hyundai with expired registration. The officer ran a background check on the vehicle and received information that the license was suspended of the possible driver. A traffic stop was executed and Orange said drugs, later identified as cocaine, was handed to him by another passenger. Meanwhile, Lewis was wanted out of Spotsylvania County on a warrant and it was discovered that he had a firearm. Lewis informed officers that he believed his girlfriend placed the gun in the console. The firearm that was recovered was reported stolen.

Orange, who entered an Alford Plea of Guilt, was placed in the First Offender Program for the possession of cocaine conviction. If he successfully completes the program, the charge will be dismissed.

Lewis received a five-year sentence with four years, 11 months suspended on the possession of a stolen firearm conviction.