TERRE HAUTE —
An former employee of the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility has been been identified as a participant in a multi-prison drug trafficking ring that was busted by federal investigators Wednesday.
Jon Dobbins is the only correctional officer listed in the federal indictment against 40 people connected to the scheme, in which two inmates housed at different Indiana prisons used cellphones smuggled in by guards to run a drug ring that distributed methamphetamine and heroin.
Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner Bruce Lemmon expressed outrage that any IDOC employees may have played a role in making drug trafficking possible in Indiana prisons.
“The actions of the small number of any IDOC correctional employees who may have facilitated these illegal activities brings dishonor to them and tarnishes the good name and professionalism of the vast majority of IDOC employees who are dedicated to making our prisons safe and upholding the rule of law.” Lemmon said.
He asserted that the IDOC has been energetically assisting and cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since the onset of the investigation. IDOC investigators uncovered the evidence that identified and led directly to the state criminal charges against Dobbins.
Dobbins, who worked at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle, is accused of delivering a package containing 13 grams of pure meth and a cellphone into the southwestern Indiana prison in July, allegedly for use by an inmate.
Prison spokesman Rich Larsen said Dobbins, 37, who was arrested in July on state charges that preceded the federal charges, was fired July 15 after working at the prison for 16 years.
“I would only add that when it comes to any criminal investigation our WVCF Correctional Police Investigators are tenacious,” said Larsen. “If you are involved in illegal activity, Wabash investigators will find out and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
FBI Special Agent Wendy Osborne said two of the 40 people indicted — 39-year-old John Smith and 35-year-old Jermaine Coleman — remained at large Thursday.
Local & Bistate
Former WVCF officer listed in prison drug trafficking indictment
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