Possession of Contraband Nets Inmate an Additional 18 Months

NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal inmate pled guilty to possessing Buprenorphine (also referred to as Suboxone) in the Federal Correctional Institution I in Butner, North Carolina “FCI Butner I,” and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the charge.  The 18-month term of imprisonment is in addition to, and consecutive to, his current term of imprisonment.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Juan Martir, 57, an inmate housed at FCI Butner I at the time of the offense, was found in possession of 45 individually wrapped strips of Buprenorphine, a schedule III-controlled substance, in his cell.  On the date in question, a Unit Officer noticed that Martir’s cell door was covered, in violation of institution rules. When he went to investigate, he found Martir at the desk with the strips of Buprenorphine covered up with a hat.  Possession of illicit substances in prison is strictly prohibited, and creates a dangerous security risk to inmates, staff, and the institution.

Martir’s conviction for possession of contraband Buprenorphine also makes him ineligible to earn time credits under the First Step Act, which allows federal inmates to earn up to 365 days off of their sentence for participating in eligible programming while incarcerated. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement.  The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00122-M-KS.

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