A male inmate currently being held at Kinston’s W.E. Billy Smith Detention Center and a Rocky Mount woman not in the jail have had warrants sworn against them for felony conspiracy to smuggle narcotics into the facility, among other charges.

On Friday, April 21, detectives with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit started an investigation into the smuggling of narcotics into the detention center. The smuggling scheme was discovered after detention center staff intercepted information regarding the scheme.

Narcotics Unit detectives investigated the matter and found that Ervin Lee Waters, the inmate, and an outside subject — Eboni Nicole Bridges — conspired to deliver narcotics into the jail.

Waters was charged with felony conspiracy to possess a controlled substance at a prison or local confinement facility; he was served the warrant and received a secured bond.

Bridges, whose warrants for arrest are outstanding and awaiting service, will be charged with felony charges of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance at a prison or local confinement facility and providing contraband to an inmate.

“I would like to commend the detention staff — along with the Narcotics Unit — for their outstanding work,” Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers said. “The awareness and attention to detail of the detention employee led to an investigation and charges for these individuals.”