A 32-year-old former juvenile probation officer was arrested on more than 100 felony charges after she allegedly used her lingering access to a sensitive court database to tip off members of a drug trafficking organization.
Back in February 2022, Crystal Lawson was hired by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. As part of her job as a juvenile probation officer, she was granted access to the Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS) database.
Later that year, Lawson’s employment was terminated following an arrest for battery. However, OCSO investigators stated that her access to the state’s sensitive database was never revoked.
Between January and May of 2026, Lawson allegedly exploited this oversight by unlawfully accessing the CCIS database a total of 106 times.
The sheriff’s office stated that Lawson specifically searched the database for active criminal cases involving a drug trafficking organization that was under active investigation by law enforcement.
During these unauthorized searches, Lawson reportedly located multiple unserved arrest warrants and identified co-defendants. Investigators accuse her of leaking these active warrants directly to members and associates of the targeted drug ring.
According to OCSO, Lawson’s alleged actions negatively impacted the ongoing investigation, resulting in “lost evidence, unrecovered assets, and at least one flight to avoid arrest.”
This week, OCSO announced on social media that Lawson has been arrested and charged with 113 felony counts of computer crimes involving unauthorized access. If convicted, she would face up to five years in prison on each count.