Crime
Bristol County Sheriff: Former inmate with warrants accused of plan to intentionally turn himself in to smuggle drugs back into jail
Charges have been filed in New Bedford District Court against a New Bedford man for attempting to smuggle a large amount of cocaine into the Dartmouth Jail.
According to Sheriff Paul Heroux, investigators from the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit began an investigation last month into the possibility that a former inmate who had warrants out for his arrest, was going to intentionally turn himself in to authorities so he could smuggle drugs back into the jail and make a substantial profit doing so.
Sheriff Heroux stated, “People introducing contraband into the jail, including drugs, do not appreciate or care about the disruption and at times harm that contraband causes. Contraband is a challenge common to all correctional facilities in the country, it threatens the safety of staff and inmates.”
Investigators were able to determine that 28-year-old Raymond Molina-Caraballo of New Bedford was the former inmate that was behind the scheme and began monitoring his activities. On August 25th, investigators learned that Molina-Caraballo was at New Bedford District Court due to his warrants, and he was subsequently ordered held by the judge and set to be brought to the Dartmouth Jail.
At this time, S.I.U coordinated with transportation and booking staff to make sure that Molina-Caraballo was searched thoroughly upon his arrival from court, and upon doing so they confiscated a large amount of suspected cocaine as well as crack cocaine. In total investigators seized over 11 grams of suspected crack cocaine, as well as nearly 26 grams of suspected powdered cocaine.
Molina-Caraballo was subsequently charged with Trafficking a Class B Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, and Delivering Drugs or Articles to a Prisoner. He was arraigned at New Bedford District Court on Friday, September 26th and is currently being held at the Bristol County Jail in Dartmouth.
Sergeant Christopher Vaz was the lead investigator in the case.
The BCSO reiterates that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
