A 77-year-old defense attorney from Texas has been arrested and charged with being a "major supplier" of dangerous narcotics in jail. Ronald Henry Lewis was accused of smuggling drugs into the Harris County Jail by sneaking inmates papers laced with drugs. The arrest came after the creation of the jail Criminal Investigations and Security division in March, which aimed to stop the flow of drugs into the facility following an increase in emergency overdoses. The investigation was launched in June following two possible overdose-related deaths of inmates. It was discovered that narcotics were being smuggled into the jail in the form of paper that had been sprayed or dipped with a chemical compound. In July, investigators received information that an attorney was involved in bringing illegal narcotics to multiple inmates in the jail.

Lewis was identified as the attorney involved, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on November 9. On November 17, when Lewis visited the jail, he was apprehended by authorities. During his arrest, he was found to be carrying multiple sheets of paper suspected to be laced with drugs. In total, Lewis was found with 11 sheets of paper believed to be contaminated with narcotics. Between July and November this year, Lewis visited a total of 14 inmates, and a total of 154 sheets of drug-laced papers were confiscated from the jail.

Authorities allege that Lewis would disguise the papers as legal mail or legal documents and sell them to inmates for prices ranging from $250 to $500. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is working with the Texas Rangers to determine if any of the narcotics introduced by Lewis into the jail led to the death of an inmate. Officials believe that other attorneys may also be involved in smuggling drugs into the jail, and the investigation is ongoing.

Ronald Henry Lewis has been a licensed attorney since 1982, according to the State Bar of Texas. He has since been released from jail after posting $15,000 bond. NBC News has reached out to his attorney for comment.

The arrest of Lewis comes as part of a larger effort by the Harris County Sheriff's Office to combat the increase in drug overdoses at the jail. The county jail has experienced at least 18 inmate deaths this year, some of which are believed to be drug-related. In response, the sheriff's office is transitioning to a new system that will digitize inmate documents, including legal paperwork and letters, in an attempt to restrict the flow of illegal drugs into the facility.

The case has raised concerns about the safety and security of the jail, as well as the involvement of other attorneys in drug smuggling activities. The sheriff's office is determined to fully investigate the situation and hold those involved accountable. Despite these concerns, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez emphasized that there are many dedicated and law-abiding attorneys who work hard to represent their clients effectively. The investigation into the smuggling operation is ongoing, and more details may emerge as the case progresses.