By Gabby Jimenez
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
JACKSON, La. — Nine people have been arrested for allegedly smuggling over $90,000 worth of contraband into the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson.
In a news release Monday afternoon, Louisiana State Police said an investigation began in November 2023 when several large bundles of contraband were seized. The bundles included large amounts of illegal narcotics, cell phones, prescription medication, knives and other forms of contraband.
“The investigation resulted in the identification of a large-scale contraband smuggling operation involving DCI inmates, trustees, a civilian DCI employee, and several other civilian individuals from the Baton Rouge area,” State Police said.
The value of the smuggled items is estimated to be worth over $90,000, according to State Police.
Nine people have been arrested so far over the course of several months. Those arrested and the counts they were booked on are:
— Dwayne Blair (DCI inmate) — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Introduction of Contraband, Possession With Intent to Distribute a Sch. I Controlled Substance, PWITD a Sch. II Controlled Substance, and PWITD a Sch. III Controlled Substance
— Bruce Padilla (DCI inmate) — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband, Dist. of a Sch. I Controlled Substance and Dist. of a Sch. II Controlled Substance
— Dustin Watson (DCI civilian employee) — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Malfeasance in Office, Introduction of Contraband, PWITD a Sch. I Controlled Substance, PWITD a Sch. II Controlled Substance, PWITD a Sch. III Controlled Substance, and PWITD a Sch. IV Controlled Substance
— Christopher Henderson (DCI inmate) — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Racketeering, Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband, Dist. of a Sch. I Controlled Substance, and Dist. of a Sch. II Controlled Substance
— Aranton Johnson (DCI inmate) — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband, Dist. of a Sch. I Controlled Substance, and Dist. of a Sch. II Controlled Substance
— Ernest Miles (DCI inmate) — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband, Dist. of a Sch. I Controlled Substance, and Dist. of a Sch. II Controlled Substance
— Lernise Jackson — booked at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for Dist. of a Sch. I Controlled Substance, Dist. of a Sch. II Controlled Substance, Dist. of a Sch. III Controlled Substance, and Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband
— Jarryl Bowie — booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband, Dist. of a Sch. I Controlled Substance, and Dist. of a Sch. II Controlled Substance
— Lauren Robinson booked at the East Feliciana Parish Prison for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Introduction of Contraband
Additional counts and arrests are possible, State Police said. The case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to share that information with LSP Detectives. Information can anonymously be reported through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting File a Report or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.
In the video below, Gordon Graham discusses how to combat contraband in correctional facilities.
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