Attorney Sentenced for Attempting to Provide Heroin to Federal Prison Inmates

Hogsett Honors Commitment to Advocate for Prison Safety

INDIANAPOLIS—Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, announced today that Robert A. Drew, 69, of Marion, Illinois, was sentenced to 16 months in prison by U.S. District Judge William T. Lawrence following his guilty plea to attempting to introduce contraband (heroin) into the Federal Correctional Complex at Terre Haute (FCC-TH). This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Terre Haute Police Department, and the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.

“The safety of the prison employees is a top priority for the Office of the United States Attorney and for the management staff at the prison. Providing all employees with a safe work environment free of drugs and other contraband is critical,” said Hogsett.

An FBI cooperating witness provided information that an FCC-TH inmate was smuggling ounce quantities of heroin into the FCC-TH through his attorney, later identified as Drew. After a review of records, it was determined that Drew had made multiple visits to the inmate identified by the cooperating witness. Prison employees discovered that Drew was scheduled to visit the prison again on August 28, 2010. On that date, at approximately 9:20 a.m., a black Mercedes bearing Illinois license plate JDrew was observed pulling on to FCC-TH property. When entering the FCC-TH property, the Mercedes passed a posted warning sign which stated the following: “NOTICE: All persons entering this Federal property are subject to a search of their person and belongings (bags, boxes, vehicles, containers in vehicles, jackets, coats, etc.)” After following the Mercedes onto the property, a law enforcement officer activated his lights and pulled the Mercedes over at the direction of the FBI. The individual driving the Mercedes was identified as Drew. The FBI agent identified himself and explained to Drew why he was being stopped and questioned. Drew was compliant and advised he had personal use marijuana in the Mercedes. A green leafy substance was later recovered from the vehicle of which some of the green leafy substance was wrapped in paper to be smoked. When questioned, Drew also revealed he had something else on him and reached down the front of his pants and pulled out a package which was taped to his body. Drew advised that he did not know what specifically was wrapped inside the package, but he knew it was some type of contraband prohibited by the FCC-TH. Drew stated he intended to deliver the taped package to an inmate at the FCC-TH during his visit. The package taped to Drew’s body was wrapped in black duct tape and inserted into a condom. A Terre Haute Police Department detective unwrapped the package which contained two small plastic bags with a dark tar like substance. It field tested positive for the presence of heroin. Laboratory examination confirmed that the substance was heroin of a quantity of approximately five grams net weight and 61 percent purity. Drew stated he had delivered this type of package to the inmate three or four times during the past year.

Drew was order to pay a fine of $ 2500.00 and Judge Lawrence also imposed two years of supervised release following Drew’s release from prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted the case for the government, stated, “Drew’s punishment was appropriate. He placed correctional officers and inmates at grave risk by his conduct. Controlled substances are currency within a penal institution and transfer power to the inmates in a very dangerous way.”