Three people were arrested on Tuesday in connection to the death of a correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater.
The three suspects have been charged with conspiring to distribute controlled substances and introducing narcotic drugs to an inmate.
The backstory: On Aug. 9, a correctional officer at the Atwater facility opened a letter that was laced with narcotics.
- He began to feel ill within minutes of opening the letter.
- He was evaluated by medical staff and taken to a nearby hospital, where he passed away.
- There was another correctional officer who came into contact with the letter but recovered after feeling ill.
The big picture: Court documents state that between July 15 and Aug. 9, inmate Jamar Jones, Stephanie Ferreira and Jermen Rudd III conspired to introduce narcotics into the Atwater facility for Jones to sell.
- They fraudulently labeled the narcotics-laced letter as legal mail.
- Ferreira is from Evansville, Indiana, and Rudd is from Wentzville, Missouri.
- Ferreira was arraigned in the Southern District of Indiana, and Rudd was arraigned in the Eastern District of Missouri.
What we’re watching: Jones is scheduled to appear in federal court in Fresno next week.
- Jones and Rudd face a maximum of 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance.
- Jones also faces a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine if convicted of being an inmate obtaining or attempting to obtain narcotic drugs.
- Ferreira faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance.
- Ferreira and Rudd also face 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of providing or attempting to provide an inmate with a narcotic drug.
