Eight people, including four inmates, were arrested in connection with a drug ring inside the Bexar County jail, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar. Three deputies believed to be involved in the organization are no longer with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, though they are not facing charges as of Monday afternoon.
Salazar said the investigation started on April 28 when BCSO’s Contraband Abatement Team, or CAT, discovered a “large amount of narcotics” inside a jail cell. The seizure included 105 grams of meth, 69 grams of marijuana, Xanax tablets, brown waxy substance and vape pens, worth several thousand dollars in total.
Two inmates found in possession of the drugs were removed from the Bexar County jail and will face charges, Salazar said. They were not identified.
An informant was able to provide BCSO with information on the ring, leading investigators to identify the inmates and civilians tied to the drugs, Salazar said.
On Friday, one of those civilians, Joann Garcia, 38, provided an undercover deputy with nearly 50 grams of meth and other items of contraband, like cigarettes and vape pens, believing they would be smuggled into the jail, Salazar said.
Garcia and seven other suspects were arrested on Monday. They face a total of 17 charges.
Garcia was charged with engaging in organized crime, prohibited substances in a correctional facility, and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance PG1 4-200 grams.
The following people were charged with engaging in organized crime and prohibited substances in a correctional facility, according to Salazar:
Noe Martinez, 33
Noemi Aracely Cortez, 50
Jose Ramos, 24
The following inmates were charged with engaging in organized crime and prohibited substances in a correctional facility, according to Salazar:
Xavier Rico, 29
Carlos Gonzalez, 38
Ruben Ceciliano, 32
Ronnie, Barnhardt, 29
Three deputies who violated policy are no longer with BCSO, according to Salazar:
Khrushchev Mayweather, 39, was handed a probationary dismissal in early May.
Juan Diego Avina, 22, was terminated Monday.
Jesse Pollard Blata, 23, chose to resign in lieu of the termination that was being contemplated.
They are not facing charges because they aren’t linked to criminal conduct, Salazar said.
“But the investigation is ongoing,” he said. “If it were up to me, we’d be arresting them tonight.”
There’s a “strong possibility” other deputies are involved, he said.
Salazar said finding contraband in the jail “doesn’t happen terribly often,” but they’re in the process of upgrading security capabilities. He said he couldn’t provide details on those upgrades.
Previous incidents highlight ongoing issues inside jail
This is the latest incident involving misconduct inside the Bexar County jail.
On April 29, inmate Francisco Bazan, 46, was found dead inside his cell after an attack by other inmates.
Now-former deputy Clemente Lopez Jr., 20, was initially charged with murder in connection with the case. He was re-arrested on a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity, according to the sheriff’s office.
Lopez admitted to investigators that he opened the door to a jail cell on April 28, allowing the assault of Bazan to take place, according to an arrest affidavit. Lopez resigned in lieu of his arrest.
So far, four Bexar County jail inmates have also been charged in connection with Bazan’s death, court records show.
In a separate case, now-former deputy Jorge Alejandro Rocha, 30, is accused of letting inmates into jail cells to assault other inmates, records show.
He was charged with interference with public duties and official oppression, records show. After Rocha was arrested, Salazar said he went to serve Rocha with termination paperwork. Rocha ultimately chose to resign, according to Salazar.
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