Federal Inmates and Their Visitors Sentenced

INDIANAPOLIS—Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, announced today that two inmates of the Federal Correctional Complex at Terre Haute and their visitors were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Larry J. McKinney following guilty pleas for introducing and possessing contraband—in both cases, marijuana—in the prison. These cases were the result of investigations by the FBI and Federal Bureau of Prisons. They are also separate and unrelated to each other.

On July 4, 2010, Atrisha Tandy, 27, of Oak Park, Michigan, and Aaron Porter, 24, Federal Correctional Complex, Terre Haute, collaborated to introduce marijuana into the prison by placing it in small balloons. Tandy put 15 balloons inside her underwear. After entering the prison visitation room with Porter, Tandy went into the bathroom, removed the balloons from her underwear and placed them inside her pocket and bra. Porter then instructed Tandy to put the balloons in his bag of cookies. Porter ingested at least two of the balloons prior to BOP staff approaching the couple and terminating the visit. Porter later passed the balloons under controlled circumstances in the prison. The total weight of the marijuana was 10.05 grams.

On August 7, 2010, Lucille Washington, 51, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, visited her half-brother, inmate Michael Spigner, 55. She arrived at approximately 2:20 p.m. and informed him that she was in possession of "weed" that she was going to pass to him during the visitation. Washington placed several balloons that were filled with marijuana inside a bag that contained an apple pie. Spigner ingested four of the balloons from the bag before being interrupted by correctional staff. He later passed those balloons under controlled circumstances. Prison staff seized a total of 21 balloons containing over 23 grams of marijuana from Washington and Spigner.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted the cases for the government, the Department of Justice has a zero tolerance approach regarding introduction of drugs into federal penal institutions because of the havoc they create in the prisons.

Judge McKinney sentenced Porter to five months in prison consecutive to his current sentence; Tandy was sentenced to two years of probation; Spigner was sentenced to 14 months in prison consecutive to his current sentence; and Washington failed to appear in a timely fashion for the sentencing. AUSA Warden requested a warrant be issued for her arrest. Judge McKinney order that the warrant be issued. Ms. Washington arrived at the court house at approximately 4:00 and was arrested.