The men and women who administer Indiana’s correctional facilities often come into contact with drug dealers who want to sell illicit substances to inmates at the institution. Most employees are warned about their proximity to the drug trade, and very few succumb to the temptation. Occasionally, however, an officer will view the drug trade as an opportunity to make a large amount of easy money for very low risk. The low level of risk may, however, prove to be illusory. An officer at the Putnamville Correctional Facility is now being hunted by law enforcement officers for allegedly arranging one trafficking scheme and planning a second such scheme.
The trafficking scheme he allegedly operated
The alleged suspect was employed as a correctional officer at the Putnamville facility. He is alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy with an inmate to bring controlled substances into the prison for re-sale to inmates. The first plan centered on trafficking suboxone. Court documents indicate that he is also suspected of planning a second trafficking conspiracy to bring suboxone, synthetic marijuana, methamphetamine and Roxies (alleged to be oxycodone crushed and mixed with fentanyl) into the facility for resale to inmates.
The suspect was employed at the facility from July 2019 to Dec. 4, 2020. Police are conducting an active search for the man, but his current whereabouts are unknown. He is currently charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking with an inmate, trafficking a controlled substance with an inmate, and unspecified forms of official misconduct.
What can be the consequences of these charges?
If arrested, the suspect will face very serious criminal charges that, upon conviction, could result in an extensive prison term and a large fine. Anyone facing such charges may wish to consult an experienced criminal defense law firm like Kammen & Moudy in Indianapolis. This firm has extensive experience defending drug crimes, and its lawyers can provide helpful evaluations of the evidence, various defense arguments and, when appropriate, assist in negotiating a plea agreement with the prosecution.