In a recent development from Roane County, a jury found Lonnie Wright guilty on charges of smuggling drugs into the local jail. Wright, already serving a 33-year sentence for the 2022 double homicide of Steve Groover and Cindy Scruggs, now faces additional time for his attempt to introduce Suboxone into the penal system, reported WVLT.
While watching this saga unfold, one cannot help but notice that Wright was convicted of a Class D felony. This charge carries a penalty of between two and 12 years in prison. According to 991 The Sports Animal, the jury's decision was influenced by evidence indicating Wright planned to profit from the sale of drugs within facility walls. His sentencing hearing is currently set for January 27, 2026, where the courts will determine if this conviction will run concurrently or consecutively with his existing term.
It was a coordinated effort between Wright and two others, Dustin McCarroll and Sara Huffman, to use the jail's mail system to sneak in the controlled substance, a narrative described by the WBIR. Despite their efforts, the authorities intervened in time to seize the drugs before it reached the inmate population. A tip from another inmate, coupled with intelligence from across Tennessee's correctional facilities, prompted the swift action.
District Attorney General Russell Johnson emphasized the diligence of the Roane County Sheriff’s Department in thwarting the smuggling attempt. "Thanks to proactive measures by the Roane County Sheriff’s Department, the plot was discovered and stopped before the contraband reached inmates but had already entered the jail," Johnson said in a statement obtained by WVLT. The DA's office also indicated that Wright, due to his extensive criminal history, could serve up to 12 years at 60% service for this latest felony conviction.
