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Posted: 6:57 PM Jul 30, 2010
Illegal Smuggling of Contraband Into Prisons And Jails
Jackson County-Authorities say folks smuggling illegal contraband into prisons and jails is a constant problem for them.
They say its especially disheartening when its someone who is supposed to enforce the rules.
The Jackson and Washington County Drug Task Force arrested two prison guards and one of the guard's girlfriends this week after they tried to smuggle six cell phones and a package of marijuana into the Graceville Correctional Facility.
Drugs and cell phones continue to be the top two items smuggled for inmates.
Reporter: Vanessa Nguyen Email Address: vanessa.nguyen@wjhg.com |
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Jackson County-Authorities say folks smuggling illegal contraband into prisons and jails is a constant problem for them.
They say its especially disheartening when its someone who is supposed to enforce the rules.
The Jackson and Washington County Drug Task Force arrested two prison guards and one of the guard's girlfriends this week after they tried to smuggle six cell phones and a package of marijuana into the Graceville Correctional Facility.
Drugs and cell phones continue to be the top two items smuggled for inmates.
The GEO Prison in Graceville has become the latest incident of illegal contraband being seized before it gets into a prison.
"We received information from Washington County Drug Task Force that there was an individual that was trying to smuggle six cell phones into GEO prison."
Those cell phones were tightly wrapped in two bundles of black electrical tape.
Authorities arrested two prison guards, 24-year-old Tyler Bradford Daniels and 23-year-old Matthew Crawford for their role in the scheme.
"Those individuals that work at those prisons are humans too and from time to time, these inmates develop a rapport with officers and staff and they exploit that relationship."
Using a confidential informant, investigators say Daniels would supply contraband to inmates and have them send $1,000 in wire transfers to his girlfriend, Kimber Lee Chambliss.
Crawford assisted by allowing Daniels to bypass the metal detector and searches.
"It may start off with giving an inmate a cigarette and from that cigarette it leads to smuggling in six cell phones and marijuana or other drugs."
Jackson County Drug Task Force Captain Joey Rabon says they are the top two-items that are smuggled into these facilities.
"They continue to arrange dope deals, arrange for other items to be brought in, in any type of criminal activity they were conducting out on the street, now is afforded the opportunity for them to do the same in the prison system by the use of the cell phone."
Those cell phones also allow inmates to plot an escape.
"So they can arrange anything they want to unbeknowing to the jail staff or the prison staff and that is a serious problem not only inside the jail but also to the community."
Authorities are also beginning to see an influx of prescription pills smuggled into jails and prisons.
"Sometimes the prison calls us and sometimes we call the prison with information that we have."
All three face second and third degree felony charges of Conspiracy to Introduce Contraband and Attempt to Introduce Contraband which can carry up to 30 years in prison.
Latest Comments
Instead of putting drug addicts in jail over and over again the system needs a real rehabilataion for repeat offenders It is such an epidemic instead of paying for probation just to violate Its a disease that needs to be treated jails are not the answer for drug addicts. It effects familys also and I as a mother have tried and spent money to the system to only be on a merry go round. Its there journey in life I HOPE ONE DAY THIS WILL CHANGE ALL I CAN DO IS KEEP THE FAITH
Actually Larry, the private prison corporations, usually take better care of the guards that work there, pay them better wages & offer better benefits than FL DOC, and usually takes better care of the inmates, ie, provides heat & ac, better food, real meat, better educational programs, they treat friends & family of inmates better, than DOC; which in the long run is usually a win/win situation...Graceville CF, which has been run by GEO, just happenes to be one of the worse run facilities in region I. That's why GEO lost the contract rebid, and CCA will be taking over the facility today 08/01...
It looks like all the "bad guys" aren't always the ones on the inside...pretty scary that bad guys are guarding the bad guys. Guess it also shows not all the guys on the inside are the bad guys. It also seems that Graceville CF has had an awful busy year, w/the inmate that ws murdered by another inmate and NOW this, GEO isn't doing such a good job...
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