Pubdate: Fri, 27 Nov 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

JAIL OFFICER ARRESTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING

A Santa Fe County jail corrections officer was arrested for bringing 
drugs into the jail to sell to an inmate, and the drugs were 
allegedly provided by the inmate's wife.

Brandon Valdez, 19, was booked into the jail he worked at on Nov. 19 
and charged with distributing a controlled substance and bringing 
contraband into a place of imprisonment after a routine search of 
four guards resulted in 20 suboxone strips, 10 Xanax pills, two 
unidentified pills and a small amount of marijuana found on Valdez.

Valdez is also charged with having his cellphone, which is considered 
contraband in the jail, hidden in a lunch bag. Two hypodermic needles 
and $282 cash were also found on him.

According to documents related to the case, Valdez admitted bringing 
in the drugs to sell to inmate Jose Lovato, whose wife Crystal Lovato 
paid $300 for the transaction.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom