Correctional officer dies after touching envelope containing drugs sent to prison; 3 people charged

ATWATER, Calif. (Gray News) – Three people are on trial in connection with the death of a correctional officer at a maximum security prison in California after he was holding an envelope containing illegal drugs.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, the three defendants were arrested on Tuesday.

The defendants include Jamar Jones, 35, an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary at Atwater; Stephanie Ferreira, 35, of Evansville, Indiana; and Jermen Rudd III, 37, of Wentzville, Missouri.

According to court documents, between July 15 and August 9, the three conspired to smuggle narcotics into the prison, which Jones then intended to sell to other inmates.

Officials said Rudd sent a drug-laced letter to Jones that was fraudulently marked as legal mail.

On Aug. 9, a correctional officer at the prison opened the letter, which contained five pieces of “waxy” paper, and “began feeling ill a few minutes later,” officials said.

The officer was taken to the hospital where he died.

A second official also became ill after processing the letter, but recovered.

The letter tested positive for amphetamines, fentanyl and “spice” or synthetic cannabinoids, as well as other substances.

An autopsy found the officer's cause of death was “undetermined” pending toxicology reports. Officials said no obvious causes of death were found other than exposure to the narcotics.

The officer's name was not released.

Following an investigation by multiple agencies, Jones, Ferreria and Rudd were arrested and charged on Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint, Jones is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and one count of distribution of controlled substances. He has a prior drug conviction and is also charged with obtaining or attempting to obtain controlled substances from an inmate.

Ferreria and Rudd are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and distribute a controlled substance and one count of furnishing or attempting to provide controlled substances to an inmate.

If convicted, all three defendants face decades in prison.

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