Golden Grove Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty To Providing Prison Contraband

St. Croix, USVI – Former Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections (BOC) officer Marcel Scotland pleaded guilty Friday in District Court on St. Croix to providing prison contraband, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent-in-Charge Vito S. Guarino.

According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on January 31, 2014, Scotland appeared for work at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility on St. Croix where he was employed as a corrections officer. As he entered the Golden Grove facility, he was asked topresent his bag for a search by a BOC official. When the official took possession of Scotland's bag, Scotland fled. A search of the bag revealed multiple cigarette lighters, rolling papers, cookies, multiple dime baggies, and a bag of marijuana. The BOC official called the Virgin Islands Police (VIPD), and VIPD notified the DEA. Scotland subsequently surrendered and told the DEA that he brought the items for an inmate but was unaware that drugs were present.

“It is a violation of federal and local law to introduce, or attempt to introduce, contraband into a prison or detention facility,” U.S. Attorney Sharpe said.

A sentencing date has been set for May 20, 2015. Scotland faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The case was investigated by the DEA and VIPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews.