Ashley Mullins, a 40-year-old resident of Appalachia, Virginia, has pleaded guilty in federal court to introducing methamphetamine into the Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “The introduction of contraband into a federal prison poses a safety threat to correctional officers and the inmates housed at the facility. I applaud the excellent work of the federal officers in this case who intercepted these deadly drugs the defendant was attempting to smuggle into prison, as well as the successful prosecution by my office to ensure the smuggler is held accountable for her crime.”
Court records show that Mullins was detected by a Bureau of Prisons officer with an object bulging in her pocket. When directed to empty her pockets, several contraband items were found, including substances later confirmed through forensic testing to be methamphetamine.
Mullins could face up to twenty years in prison and three years of supervised release at sentencing.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Welch prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General. More information about public court documents can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website and additional details about the office are available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
