An inmate who was just lately granted clemency from then-President Joe Biden has been charged in reference to smuggling K2-laced paper into federal jail.
A state employee with the Massachusetts Division of Environmental Safety can be dealing with expenses with conspiring to distribute an artificial cannabinoid into FMC Devens.
Inmate Raymond Gaines, 45, had been granted clemency on Jan. 17 within the remaining days of Biden’s time in workplace — decreasing Gaines’ 2022 federal jail sentence for drug distribution.
Now, Gaines and 43-year-old Tasha Hammock, an worker with the state Division of Environmental Safety, are charged with conspiracy to distribute a managed substance analogue.
Hammock is a program coordinator on the state Division of Environmental Safety, and he or she took house greater than $84,000 in complete pay final yr, in line with state payroll information.
Final Aug. 18, Hammock whereas visiting Gaines in jail allegedly surreptitiously handed K2-laced papers to him, which he pocketed.
“In addition, Hammock allegedly previously handled money connected with the distribution of K2 to Gaines in FMC Devens, and she allegedly received K2 at her residence for distribution into the prison,” the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace wrote.
Legislation enforcement turned fascinated about Hammock’s visits to Gaines after acquiring a cellphone that had allegedly been smuggled to an inmate within the jail. In September 2023, the inmate allegedly despatched messages on the cellphone to a different particular person, discussing acquiring K2 in jail.
The inmate allegedly advised the person who the medicine could possibly be delivered to a selected deal with in Bridgewater — later decided to be Hammock’s residence — and that the inmate’s “co” would organize for the medicine to be introduced into the jail from there.
Gaines in January of 2022 was sentenced to greater than seven years in jail after pleading responsible in federal courtroom in Boston to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
On the time he dedicated the offenses, he was on federal judicial supervised launch after serving a jail sentence ensuing from a 2017 conviction for distributing cocaine base inside 1,000 ft of a faculty.
Gaines was allegedly an affiliate of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a avenue gang in Boston.
Earlier this yr on Jan. 17, Gaines obtained an govt grant of clemency, decreasing his present federal sentence to 5 years in jail.
Inmates at Devens prior to now have turn into sick from smoking paper believed to comprise K2, in addition to jail workers who’ve been uncovered to the secondary smoke.
K2 has additionally been an issue in state prisons, together with at MCI-Shirley the place a correction officer final yr was uncovered to a poisonous substance and rushed to the hospital.
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