A former Hall County Jail employee accused by federal authorities of smuggling cocaine into the jail entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court Tuesday.

Austin Herring, 19, of Murrayville, was arrested on Feb. 20. He pleaded guilty to a count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine Tuesday in federal court.

Authorities previously accused Herring of smuggling cocaine into the jail on two occasions for a total of $1,000.

“It’s shameful to see a young man deliberately decide to break the law and potentially put his co-workers at risk for his own personal profit,” Hall Sheriff Gerald Couch said in a statement after Herring’s arrest. “While jailers are entrusted to provide safety and security for inmates, this person made the decision to betray his oath of service. We will not tolerate these actions and will continue to hold our personnel accountable according to the letter of the law.”

Multiple attempts to reach Herring’s attorney Graham McKinnon were unsuccessful.

North Georgia Major Offenders Safe Streets Task Force agents began investigating Herring on Jan. 28. Two confidential informants were used: a Gainesville business owner and a Hall County Jail inmate.

According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Herring met with the business owner and was given a small package of “ruse cocaine.”

The business owner told Herring it was Mexican cocaine, according to the affidavit, and Herring allegedly accepted $500 cash.

Herring then asked if the jailed informant, according to the affidavit, liked milk, to which the informant said yes.

“Herring then told (the informant) that he would soon bring (the informant) an additional milk carton and that (the informant) should inspect the milk carton to insure that the milk was not ruined,” according to the affidavit.

Inside the empty milk carton was the small package of fake cocaine, according to the affidavit.

Herring was fired on Feb. 20. Sentencing will be held at a later date.

According to the plea agreement, the maximum prison sentence is 20 years and the maximum fine is $1 million. There is no minimum mandatory prison sentence.