Meth, phones into prison by drone

TENNESSEE COLONY – Seven people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a scheme to bring meth into the Mark W. Michael state prison in Tennessee Colony. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) said they conducted a “high intensity interdiction operation” at the Michael Unit in January after they learned that drones were used to deliver large amounts of contraband into the prison.

During the operation, TDCJ said more than 100 cellphones, a large amount of meth, synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs were reportedly found in the prison.

“This operation underscores both the risks posed by contraband and the strength of our response,” TDCJ Executive Director Bobby Lumpkin said. “We will remain relentless in our fight to stop illegal narcotics from entering and harming those in our facilities.”

The TDCJ said the following seven people were arrested and charged with engaging in organized crime in connection with this case:

• Dalen Bright from Webster was booked into the Galveston County Jail.
• Amber Smith from Missouri City was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail.
• Mari Cazares, a former TDCJ Correctional Officer from Dallas, was booked into the Dallas County Jail.
• Joshua Rider from Houston was booked into the Harris County Jail.
• Alyson Wells from Plano was booked into the Plano City Jail.
• John Pina from Krum was booked into the Denton County Jail.
• Janet Gutherie, a former TDCJ Correctional Officer from DeKalb, was booked into the Bowie County Jail.

Cazares’ apartment was also recently searched, and TDCJ said more items to be smuggled into the prison were found there, including 30 pounds of loose tobacco, four new cell phones, Bluetooth earbuds and 50 bags similar to those provided to prisoners by the TDCJ.