COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio lawmaker is intensifying calls for “Andy’s Law” to overhaul prison security and impose harsher penalties on violence against corrections officers, spotlighting vulnerabilities exposed by inmate-issued tablets that officials say are routinely “jailbroken” to enable drug deals and even financial transactions.
The bipartisan House Bill 338, which sailed through the Ohio House in November 2025 on a 77-3 vote, would mandate full-time K-9 drug-sniffing dogs at state facilities — sourced and trained by the Ohio Highway Patrol K-9 Training Center — to screen visitors and curb contraband influxes. It also calls for eliminating full-contact visitation in high-security prisons, where drugs often enter unchecked due to limited screening resources, and requires any extended sentences for related offenses to run consecutively, potentially adding decades to inmates’ time behind bars.
Named after Correctional Officer Andrew “Andy” Lansing, who was beaten to death by an inmate on Christmas Day 2024 at Ross Correctional Institution while covering a holiday shift for colleagues, the bill aims to deter assaults and smuggling that have fueled a spike in staff injuries. Key provisions include life without parole for murdering correctional employees, a mandatory seven-year term for felonious assaults on officers and a three-year sentence for throwing bodily fluids at staff. It would further limit inmate access to certain programs, like higher education, for those with disciplinary violations.
The legislation’s momentum comes amid a landmark conviction in Ohio’s largest prison drug conspiracy, where inmate-issued tablets emerged as a critical enabler of the scheme. On Feb. 12, a Muskingum County jury convicted Justin A. Alexander, 46, of Zanesville — serving 25 years for a 2000 homicide — and Norman V. Whiteside, 71, of Columbus on charges including corrupt activity, drug trafficking, illegal conveyance into prisons and money laundering.
The two-week trial laid bare a network smuggling methamphetamine, cocaine and synthetic cannabinoids into at least five facilities via drones, drug-soaked playing cards, hollowed-out books and disguised legal mail exploiting “attorney control number” protocols. Prosecutors detailed how Alexander directed operations from inside, with accomplices using drones to photograph drop sites in prison yards and relay coordinates directly to inmates’ tablets — devices the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) admits are about 90% “jailbroken” to bypass restrictions and mimic unrestricted consumer models.
These tablets, provided free to inmates and replaced at no cost if damaged, allow seamless communication with external “drug mules,” including sharing drone imagery for precise deliveries and even processing payments via apps like Venmo, according to investigators and whistleblowers. The case traced over $218,000 in laundered funds through couriers, underscoring how such tech facilitates “enterprises designed for longevity,” as Assistant Prosecutor John Litle described it in court.
While the conspiracy was prosecuted under existing racketeering laws targeting the smuggling itself, Andy’s Law would address downstream threats by mandating consecutive sentences for extended terms and bolstering preventive measures like K-9 screenings at visitation — a direct counter to the unchecked entry points highlighted in the case. All 16 co-defendants, including relatives of Alexander, have pleaded guilty or been convicted, with sentences up to four years.
The bill, however, remains stalled in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee as of February 2026, snagged by debates over costs, prison overcrowding and provisions restricting educational programs. Critics, including prison education advocates, warn it could disenroll hundreds of inmates from college courses, while supporters argue it honors Lansing’s legacy amid rising drug-fueled violence.
State Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Chillicothe — whose district encompasses Ross Correctional — is leading the charge for Senate passage. “Andy’s Law equips prisons with the tools they desperately need, from Highway Patrol-trained K-9s sniffing out drugs at the front door to consecutive sentences that keep repeat threats locked away longer,” Johnson said in a statement echoing his advocacy. “Cases like this Zanesville bust show how jailbroken tablets and drone drops turn facilities into war zones — the Senate can’t ignore that. We’re so close; let’s get this enacted and protect every officer like Andy.”
“Andy’s Law is about honoring Officer Lansing’s sacrifice and ensuring no other family endures this heartbreak,” the Representative said. “Our corrections officers put their lives on the line every day — they deserve real protection, not just words. The Senate has seen the evidence from tragedies like Andy’s death and massive drug rings like the one just dismantled in Muskingum County. It’s time to act now and get this bill enacted. This isn’t partisan — it passed the House with overwhelming unity because the crisis is real. Full-contact visits without dogs? Tablets enabling Venmo for heroin? Enough. The Senate has the facts and the fire to move Andy’s Law forward now, saving lives and restoring safety.”
Johnson added, “This legislation passed the House overwhelmingly because lawmakers from both sides recognize the crisis. The Senate committee can move it forward quickly — our guards’ safety and public trust in the system depend on it. I’m confident they’ll rise to the occasion and make Andy’s Law the law of Ohio.”
Sentencing for Alexander and Whiteside is pending, with prosecutors seeking maximum consecutive terms.
Co-defendants include:
- Jessica Queen, 45, of Belpre, Ohio. One of Alexander’s many, simultaneous girlfriends who was used to direct the organization outside of prison. Queen faces sentencing at a later date.
- Lisa Davis, 48, of Zanesville, Alexander’s sister. Davis is serving four years in prison for money laundering and received Alexander’s profits.
- Tondalea Hale, 52, of Zanesville, Alexander’s cousin. Tondelea Hale was recruited into Alexander’s operation by Lisa Davis, and she was convinced to hold, transfer, and manage the organization’s money at the direction of Alexander. Hale had never even seen Alexander face-to-face. She faces sentencing at a later date.
- Jolene Savage, 29, of Columbus, mother to one of Alexander’s children. Savage performed numerous duties for the Alexander organization, including several smuggling attempts. She will be sentenced on a Bill of Information at a later date.
- Jamuall Jones, 26, of Warren Correctional Institution, from Cleveland. Jones was Alexander’s roommate and one of his distributors. Jones was previously sentenced.
- Heaven Goudlock, 24, of Cleveland. Goudlock was Jones’s girlfriend and moved money for the organization. She was previously sentenced.
- Sasha Hill, 24, of Cleveland. Hill was Jones’s friend and agreed to move money for the Alexander organization. She faces sentencing at a future date.
- Kyle “White Boy” Ross, 32, of Ross Correctional Institution, from Marion. Ross was one of Alexander’s captains, and a high-level drug distributor for Alexander. He was previously sentenced.
- Randall “Bub” Cremeans, 38, of Lebanon Correctional Institution, from Zanesville. Cremeans was Ross’s roommate and a distributor for the organization. He was previously sentenced.
- Kristen Sonagere, 31, of Dayton. Sonagere was Cremeans friend and moved money for the Alexander organization for both Ross and Cremeans. She faces sentencing at a later date.
- Ken O. “Lil man” Gatlin, 27, of Zanesville. Gatlin was one of Alexander’s captains, responsible for drug distribution in his side of a housing unit at Ross Correctional Institution. He was previously sentenced.
- Vanita McCrae, 40, of Zanesville. Gatlin’s sister, McCrae moved thousands of dollars for the criminal enterprise. She was previously sentenced.
- Kashawn “Duda” Cox, 26, of Zanesville. Duda was another of Alexander’s captains, responsible for drug distribution in the opposite housing unit at Ross Correctional Institution. He was previously sentenced.
- Emily Goodrich, 26, of Zanesville, Cox’s ex-girlfriend. She moved money for the organization between Cox and Alexander. She was previously sentenced.
- Michelle Lang, 26, of Zanesville, Cox’s girlfriend. Lang moved money for the organization and was also previously sentenced.