Texas correctional officer allegedly smuggled contraband into prison in burritos
03/18/2026 3:53 pm PDT
HENDERSON, Texas (TCN) -- A man was arrested and taken into custody for allegedly smuggling tobacco into a prison using burritos.
KLTV reports James Byron Thibodeaux, 66, is a correctional officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. On March 12, staff at the Bradshaw unit in Henderson, Texas, where he worked, contacted the Office of Inspector General investigator Daniel Johnson after they found contraband in a restroom trash can. According to an affidavit obtained by the outlet, staff had seen Thibodeaux leaving the restroom immediately before the contraband was found.
When he spoke to investigators, Thibodeaux allegedly admitted he had put tobacco into burritos and dropped them in the trash for an inmate to retrieve. He was to receive payment via a cash app for the delivery, according to the affidavit.
According to KLTV, Thibodeaux was arrested and jailed March 12 on third-degree bribery and prohibited substance in a correctional facility and was released March 14 on $15,000 bond. If convicted, he could face two to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
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