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Sumterville, FL - A Florida man has been sentenced to 14 additional months for attempting to smuggle drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and cellphones into a federal prison.
Jose Santos Pardo, 25, from Homestead, has been sentenced to an additional 14 months in prison after attempting to smuggle illegal goods into a low-security section of the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber after Pardo pleaded guilty to possession of contraband by a federal inmate on March 25th.
The incident occurred on November 19th, 2022, when a correctional officer saw Pardo running along a road near the prison carrying two duffle bags and a trash bag.
The bags were searched, revealing a significant amount of contraband, including drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and several cellphones, all of which are prohibited in correctional facilities.
Pardo admitted during a law enforcement interview that he had retrieved the bags from the side of the road with the intention of bringing them back to his housing unit.
The possession of such items is strictly forbidden in federal prisons as they can disrupt the facility’s security and pose risks to both staff and inmates.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson led the prosecution.
This sentencing serves as a reminder of the federal authorities’ continued efforts to prevent contraband from entering correctional facilities and compromising prison safety.