MACON, Ga. — A Macon woman pleaded guilty to her role in smuggling synthetic marijuana into the Bibb County Jail back in 2020, according to newly released court records.
Back on Nov. 1, Shatiareni Lowder admitted to handling the finances for a drug smuggling scheme. Robreon Lee, the father of Lowder's child, was incarcerated in the Bibb County jail on aggravated assault charges.
According to her plea hearing, Lee would receive drug-soaked papers in the mail, cut them into smaller pieces and distribute them to the inmates.
Prosecutors note that Lowder was captured on the phone discussing the drug smuggling with Lee.
While the prosecutors and defense attorney agreed to sentence Lowder to serve her sentence on probation, Judge Jeffery Monroe said that wasn't enough. He said that she needed to serve more jail time.
"The Court finds that — or believes — that Ms. Lowder has not spent enough time in jail," Monroe said. "Anybody that trades with inmates, giving things to people who are inside and locked up needs... to understand that you cannot do that."
The transcript of her plea hearing was filed on Friday, offering the first glimpse at what happened in the courtroom on Nov. 1.
Prosecutors say the case began when authorities intercepted a phone call from Lee and an unknown person, discussing having a liquid narcotic placed on paper that would be sent to the Bibb County jail. The paper would be sent disguised as mail from an attorney, which receives additional protections.
Prosecutors say Lowder was handling the profits for Lee by managing the payment applications CashApp and Chime.
Monroe sentenced Lowder to 90 days in the Bibb County jail minus the 10 days she spent in the jail back in 2020.
While Lowder claimed that she didn't actually smuggle the drugs, the judge said it didn't matter. She was part of the scheme and deserves a sentence that recognizes that.
"That's the price you pay, Ms. Lowder, in dealing and trafficking with the inmates," Monroe said. "Folks you know had no business with the stuff you were trying to get to 'em — now you get to join 'em."
The case against Lowder's co-defendants, Keshawn Foster and Lee, remains open. In exchange for her guilty plea, Lowder agreed to testify truthfully against them.
Prosecutors also agreed to dismiss the other charge against her, attempting to violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, due to her guilty plea.