A Fresno man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for throwing methamphetamine into the recreational yard of a Mendota prison.
U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert announced that Garrett Scott Wheelen, 33, was charged with possessing methamphetamine.
Driving the news: Court documents state that Wheelen arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution Mendota wearing a facemask, baseball cap and hoodie to conceal his identity on May 1.
- Wheelen ran to the prison fence in broad daylight and tossed four packages into the prison’s recreation yard.
- Prison officials quickly apprehended Wheelen after he attempted to flee.
- They discovered that the packages contained over three pounds of methamphetamine.
- None of the prisoners who were in the prison yard at the time retrieved the packages that Wheelen threw.
What we’re watching: Wheelen faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted.