By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
RICHMOND, Va. — An employee with the Virginia Department of Corrections was arrested after a search of their personal vehicle led to the recovery of several contraband items, the VADOC said.
VADOC intelligence staff received a report that an employee was planning to bring contraband into Sussex I State Prison on Tuesday.
The employee arrived at the facility around 6:45 p.m. and was taken to a separate room for questioning.
During questioning, the employee confessed to meeting an inmate’s aunt in Roanoke to pick up cell phones, VADOC said in a news release.
During the search of the employee’s vehicle, staff found contraband wrapped up in an article of clothing. In total, nine cellphones, five packages of tobacco, a package of cellphone charging adapters, two cellphone SIM cards, a pair of earbuds, tobacco wrapping papers and four additional charging cords were found during the search, VADOC said.
“There is a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs and contraband at our facilities,” said VADOC Director Chadwick Dotson. “This applies to both inmates and employees. Employees who are found to have contraband and are attempting to smuggle these items into our facility will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The incident remains under investigation.