Justice Department: Federal prison employee dies after touching drug-laced package sent to inmate

Three people are on trial in connection with the death of a prison employee in California. The employee died earlier this month when he handled a drug-laced package that had been sent to an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary at Atwater, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Inmates Jamar Jones (35), Stephanie Ferreira (35) of Indiana and Jermen Rudd III (37) of Missouri are accused of conspiracy to smuggle narcotics into USP Atwater, the Justice Department said.

According to court documents, between July 15 and August 9, Jones and Ferreira persuaded Rudd to mail a drug-laced package that was falsely marked as legal mail.

On Aug. 9, a correctional officer at USP Atwater opened the package and within minutes “began to feel unwell,” according to the Justice Department. Federal officials said the package contained what they described as wet or waxy paper.

CASEY HAS LINKS TO CHINESE COMPANY WHICH HE CLAIMED THE MCCORMICK-RUN COMPANY INVESTED TO “PROFIT” FROM THE FENTANYL CRISIS

An exterior view of USP Atwater in Atwater, California. (BOP)

Medical personnel examined the officer and took him to a hospital, where he died. Another correctional officer became ill after handling the package but later recovered, the Justice Department said.

Federal officials said the material processed by officers “tested presumptively positive for amphetamines, fentanyl and 'spice' or synthetic cannabinoids and other substances.”

Jones, Ferreira and Rudd were arrested on Tuesday.

A man prepares to smoke fentanyl on a park bench in downtown Portland, Oregon, May 18, 2023. (Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

Over 2,000 pounds of meth smuggled in celery at Atlanta Farmers Market

Each of them was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and administering narcotics to an inmate at USP Atwater, said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.

Ferreira is being prosecuted in the Southern District of Indiana, Rudd in the Eastern District of Missouri and Jones will make his initial court appearance in Fresno next week.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Each defendant faces 20 to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.