By Adriana M. Chávez
El Paso Times
EL PASO, Texas — A correctional officer at La Tuna federal prison allegedly smuggled heroin to members of the Aryan Brotherhood gang, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
FBI agents arrested Randy M. Smith, 28, of El Paso last week after an undercover investigation.
According to a criminal complaint against Smith, investigators with the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General received complaints from two inmates accusing Smith of smuggling drugs and tobacco to Aryan Brotherhood gang members.
On June 9, one of the inmates passed along to Smith a phone number belonging to an undercover agent.
About a week later, Smith texted the undercover agent, who offered Smith $5,000 to smuggle an ounce of heroin and a pair of sunglasses to give to an inmate.
The next day, the agent met Smith outside at the Outlet Shoppes of El Paso near Canutillo. Agents said they arrested Smith after he accepted the payment and the items. In the complaint, agents said Smith later admitted smuggling contraband into La Tuna about 50 times and receiving about $5,000 in return.
He was arrested on investigation of possession with intent to distribute heroin and attempting to provide contraband in prison. Smith was released from the El Paso County Jail last week on a $20,000 bond.
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