News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2007
Contact: Tony Pettigrew
617-557-2138

Corrections Officer Arrested For Plan to Smuggle Drugs to Jail

JUN 21 -- (BOSTON, MA) - A Worcester man who worked as a corrections officer at the Worcester County House of Corrections was charged today in federal court with conspiring to smuggle oxycodone into an inmate at the jail where he worked.

Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England June Stansbury, United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Joseph Early, Worcester County District Attorney, and Guy Glodis, Worcester County Sheriff, announced today that MATTHEW F. MAHONEY, age 24, of 134 Commonwealth Avenue, Worcester, was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute, and possessing oxycodone with intent to distribute.

The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint alleges that MAHONEY, a corrections officer at the Worcester County House of Corrections, conspired with an inmate at the jail to smuggle 80 to 100 oxycodone pills into the jail so that the inmate could sell the pills to other inmates. According to the affidavit, undercover agents posed as oxycodone suppliers and during meetings with MAHONEY recorded conversations in which MAHONEY provided details about the plan to introduce the drugs in the jail where he was a corrections officer. MAHONEY also explained during such conversations how the undercover posing as a drug supplier would bepaid. MAHONEY was arrested when an undercover officer met with him on June 20, a meeting at which MAHONEY expected to take delivery of the pills. The affidavit alleges that MAHONEY told the undercover he had previously smuggled marijuana into the jail.

If convicted on these charges, MAHONEY faces up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. The case was investigated by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in Worcester along with Sheriff Glodis’ Special Services Investigation Unit, District Attorney Early’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Auburn CPAC unit, Worcester Police Department and the Westborough Police Department.

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