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Correction officer arrested after allegedly smuggling drugs into Shirley prison
“The monetary black-market value of the synthetic cannabinoid laced paper, within Shirley Prison, is approximately $528,000."
A correction officer accused of smuggling drugs into a Massachusetts medium-security prison in Shirley resigned last week, the Department of Correction announced Sunday.
Roxsandra Wright is facing charges of delivering an article to a prisoner. She allegedly brought synthetic cannabinoid-laced paper into MCI-Shirley.
“The Massachusetts Department of Correction holds all staff members to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” DOC Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said in a statement. “Any behavior that compromises the safety and security of our facilities, or undermines public trust, will not be tolerated.”
Wright was arrested Saturday as part of an ongoing investigation by DOC and Massachusetts State Police into narcotics illegally entering prisons. Her resignation was effective Oct. 31, the department said.
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Wright was seen on live video surveillance last week conversing with Chon Son, an inmate, during a recreation period, according to court documents. Son approached a staff office, which is restricted to inmates, and appeared to return two handballs to Wright.
“Son is observed making a gesture towards Office Wright and quickly retrieved and placed an unknown package in the left pocket of his jacket,” the criminal complaint read. “Son appeared to have another brief conversation with Wright, and Wright was observed walking around the desk within the office holding a small roll of clear trash bags.”
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Son left the gym and was seen moving the package from his pocket to the back of his pants, the court records allege. He was detained and searched, and the package was found in a blue latex glove inside a small plastic trash bag, “consistent with the roll” from Wright, the complaint said.
The package had 45 stripes of paper, which amounted to about 15 full pages of paper, court documents said. The strips appeared wet and tested positive for a known synthetic cannabinoid, according to prosecutors.
“The monetary black-market value of the synthetic cannabinoid laced paper, within Shirley Prison, is approximately $528,000,” court documents said.
Wright previously submitted her resignation on Sept. 30 to move to New Jersey with her sister and work for the state’s department of corrections, according to court records.
When Wright was told that Son was apprehended, she attempted to go home sick, the court documents allege. She is expected to be arraigned in Ayer District Court Monday.
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