LAKE CITY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has charged seven people based upon a scheme by two inmates to sue the Florida Department of Corrections after self-inflicting gunshot wounds. Five are in custody and two are at-large.

FDLE began its investigation in March after two inmates were shot with a .25 caliber Beretta semi-automatic pistol inside Columbia Correctional Institution in Lake City. Inmates Kirk Cartwright, 33, and Deshandre Billups, 26, told investigators they were shot by an unknown person while praying inside their cell. However, investigators found that the inmates conspired to bring a gun into the prison through the mail, and shoot themselves with the intent of suing the prison system.

Cartwright and Billups are accused of smuggling contraband items into the prison without detection of staff. Investigators said the pair routinely smuggled in cellphones and drugs which they sold to other inmates or kept for themselves. According to FDLE, Family members and friends of the two inmates, along with inmate Tony Underwood, 21, helped in the scheme.

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/25800742/fdle-inmates-conspired-to-shoot-themselves-in-scheme-to-sue-prison-system