Six Arrested for Conspiring to Bring Contraband into Montgomery City Jail

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: May 02 2016 12:14 PM

Montgomery: Rasheen Jahmal Smith, 30, Curtis Caffie, 24, Derreana Gray, 24, Curtis Jackson, 54, Peggy Caffie Jackson, 48, and Jeremy Terrell Caffie, 28, all from Montgomery, Alabama were arrested this weekend, announced George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.  The arrests followed the return of a federal indictment charging each for their involvement in an attempt to smuggle contraband cellular telephones into the Montgomery City Jail.  The indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by the United States Marshals Service.

According to court documents, Rasheen Smith, Curtis Caffie and Joshua Jackson devised a scheme to smuggle cellular telephones into the City Jail where they were then being held on unrelated charges.  Aided by family members and others, a package purportedly containing legal documents but actually containing cellular telephones was delivered to the Montgomery City Jail addressed to Rasheen Smith.  The package was intercepted by employees of the Montgomery City Jail who became suspicious of the package’s contents.  While investigating the matter, several of the defendants made false statements to deputy United States Marshals concerning their roles in the conspiracy.

On April 25, 2016, Joshua Jarrell Jackson entered a guilty plea before United States Magistrate Judge Terry F. Moorer for his role in the plan and for attempting to influence a witness to provide a false statement to deputy United States Marshals during the course of their investigation.

“A cell phone these days is an essential part of the daily affairs of most law abiding citizens,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck.  “However, cell phones in the hands of prisoners present a serious threat to public safety, the safety of correctional officers, and other inmates as well.”

            “At one time, drugs and tobacco were the contraband of choice by prisoners.  Now, wireless telephones are becoming increasingly popular,” stated U.S. Marshall Tom Hession.    “The correctional personnel that intercepted the devices are to be commended.  Correctional institutions must continue to maintain their vigilance toward detection of smuggling and possession of the devices by inmates, excellent intelligence gathering and uphold effective practices to minimize the dangers posed by inmate wireless telephone possession.”

            “An inmate’s illegal activity may involve discussions with fellow criminals outside the prison walls about drug trafficking, money laundering or intimidating witnesses – or worse, plotting their murders,” said Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley.  “Jail personnel involved with this incident are to be commended for their attention to detail and subsequent efforts to protect our community, their fellow officers and all those incarcerated at the Montgomery City Jail.”

  A conviction for conspiracy to commit the charged offenses carries a potential sentence maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.

An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Montgomery Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney’s Curtis Ivy and Rand Neely are prosecuting the case.

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