MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Shelby County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputy is now facing bribery and official misconduct charges, the Sheriff’s office announced Friday morning.
The deputy has been identified as 35-year-old Bianca Grandberry who graduated from the police academy in February 2021.
The SCSO says she was indicted, and arrested Friday outside of an elementary school.
On November 13, 2024, deputies say evidence was uncovered that Grandberry was having an inappropriate relationship with inmate Martavious Williams.
Deputies say the allegations stemmed from a tip they received and later turned over to detectives for investigation, leading to Grandberry’s arrest.
Grandberry is accused of engaging in video chats with Williams while she was off work and he was in jail.
📡 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.
📧 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox.
Deputies say monetary transactions were discovered between Grandberry, Williams, and family members, totaling $6,400. They believe money was being sent to Grandberry for her to purchase contraband for Williams.
When deputies checked Williams’ cell, they found contraband items such as two bags of marijuana, a cell phone, and a “shank”, which is metal sharpened into an edged weapon.
“We also found two small bags of marijuana. One that was tucked inside clothing within the cell,” said Anthony Buckner, SCSO Office Chief Deputy. “But, then another small bag of marijuana that was being hidden inside a Lucky Charms bag. We weighed both of those bags and it weighed about 66.7 grams.”
Williams is facing bribery of a public servant and three counts of introducing contraband inside a correctional facility. His cellmate, Malik Williams, is also charged with three counts of introducing contraband into a correctional facility.
Grandberry was relieved of duty without pay.
This comes after an inmate was found unresponsive overnight in jail. SCSO says the inmate suffered from a medical emergency and was taken to Methodist University in extremely critical condition.
“We view corrections deputies as protectors and not predators. And so it’s disappointing that the same person who was patrolling the hallways of a Shelby County Jail, now find themselves on the other side of the law, behind bars,” said Chief Deputy Buckner.
SCSO has asked the General Bureau of Investigation and administrators to investigate what led to the “potential criminal investigation” into the medical emergency, according to Chief Deputy Buckner. This is a standard protocol.
Grandberry is booked in 201 Poplar on a $15,000 bond. A court date has not been set yet.
This investigation is ongoing and there could be charges against others involved in the alleged crimes.
