Former Louisville Metro Corrections officer accused of conspiring with inmates to bring drugs into jail

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A former Louisville Metro Corrections officer is herself behind bars after investigators said she was involved in a plot to bring narcotics into the jail.

According to court documents, 29-year-old Cynthia Kosman was arrested by officers with the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on Wednesday evening after an investigation by the Louisville Metro Police Public Integrity Unit and a Louisville Metro Corrections internal investigation.

Authorities said the investigation began when Kosman was found with her cellphone in an area of the jail where phones are prohibited. It was later learned that from April 13, 2022, to May 30, 2022, while Kosman was a corrections officer, she conspired with two inmates, Gary Burns and Trinity Barnett, to bring narcotics into the jail, according to court documents. Investigators said another woman, Marjon Watson, who was not in jail, was also involved.

Gary Burns, Marjon Watson and Trinity Barnett are accused of conspiring with former Louisville Metro Corrections Officer Cynthia Kosman to bring narcotics into the jail. (Mugshots and photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Corrections)

Investigators said they used jail phones, cellphones and text messages to plan the deliveries, with Kosman phoning inmates, texting them and meeting them in person.

Louisville Metro Police investigated the case, according to court documents, and the plan was uncovered after police interviews and reviews of phone conversations.

Kosman resigned in February. A warrant was issued for her arrest on April 11, and she turned herself in Wednesday.

Kosman is charged with first-degree official misconduct, first-degree promotion of contraband and first-degree of conspiracy to promote contraband. She was booked into Louisville Metro Corrections on April 12, and was due in court April 13.

"I would like to thank the Metro Police Public Integrity Unit for their help in this case," Jerry Collins, chief of Louisville Metro Corrections, said in a statement. "I would also like to thank the detectives at Metro Corrections for their diligent work. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated, and we will make every effort to hold those accountable who betray the trust the community has placed in him."