Prison guard charged as smuggler
A guard at a federal prison in Fairton N.J., which houses Philadelphia-area inmates, yesterday was arrested for allegedly smuggling contraband to an inmate in exchange for $6,000 in the past two weeks.
A guard at a federal prison in Fairton N.J., which houses Philadelphia-area inmates, yesterday was arrested for allegedly smuggling contraband to an inmate in exchange for $6,000 in the past two weeks.
On June 7, Steven Harper, 32, of Pleasantville, N.J., allegedly agreed to smuggle in prescription drugs, a gold chain, eyeglasses and workout supplements - whey powder and hydroxcut supplement, according to a joint investigation by the FBI, Inspector General of the Department of Justice, U.S. Postal Service and the Margate Police.
In exchange for the contraband, Harper was to be paid by Postal Service money orders made out to M.W. of Atlantic City, according to the complaint.
On June 15, law enforcement officers delivered $3,000 in money orders to M.W., and later Harper allegedly delivered a gold chain, two pairs of eyeglasses and two plastic bags of workout supplements to a confidential informant in the prison.
When Harper allegedly accepted the drugs from an undercover agent posing as a relative of the inmate, he was arrested.
If found guilty, Harper faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was released from custody yesterday after paying a $100,000 bond. It's unclear if he has been fired. *