Bay County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Two in Jail Contraband Smuggling Bust: Methamphetamine and Suboxone Seized

BAY COUNTY, FL - Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) inspectors have arrested Shawna Yohe, age 44, and Elizabeth Walker, age 27, both of Panama City, following an investigation into a contraband smuggling operation inside the Bay County Jail. The arrests come after weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering by BCSO inspectors.

Inspectors received information that Shawna Yohe, an employee of the contracted food service vendor at the jail, had been smuggling methamphetamine and Suboxone strips into the facility. On February 13, 2025, inspectors conducted surveillance on an inmate suspected of receiving contraband from Yohe. During the operation, the inmate was observed dropping a sock on the floor as deputies approached. Another inmate quickly picked up the sock, removed the contraband, and attempted to hide it in the dormitory.

Deputies recovered the contraband and discovered it was methamphetamine and Suboxone strips. Through additional investigation, inspectors determined that Yohe had been smuggling contraband into the jail throughout January and February 2025.

A search warrant was obtained for Yohe’s phone. On the phone, investigators found CashApp transactions from Elizabeth Walker, the girlfriend of the inmate that received the contraband. Further investigation revealed that Walker personally delivered the contraband to Yohe’s residence, and Yohe would then smuggle the items into the jail during her work hours in exchange for payment.

BCSO obtained an arrest warrant for Shawna Yohe on a charge of Introduction of Contraband into a Detention Facility. On February 18, 2025, Yohe was found hiding inside her residence to evade law enforcement. Yohe was taken into custody and additionally charged with Resisting an Officer without Violence.

An arrest warrant was also issued for Elizabeth Walker, who was located at a local hotel on February 21, 2025 and taken into custody without incident. She was charged with Conspiracy to Introduce Contraband into a Detention Facility.