Former Prison Guard and Mother of Inmate Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking Offenses

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A former Huttonsville Correctional Center guard and the mother of  Huttonsville inmate pled guilty to drug trafficking offenses,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Mark Steven Taylor, 40, of Richwood, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.   Pamela Gail Adkins, 44, of Oak Hill, pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and heroin.

“An officer of the law gone bad. The actions of both Taylor and Adkins are incomprehensible,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “A corrections officer, who is supposed to uphold the law, takes money to act as a drug courier and a mother who is trying her best to distribute meth and heroin to her incarcerated son.  Unbelievable.  Despicable. And just plain wrong. We’re working hard with federal, state and local law enforcement to stop the flow of drugs into correctional facilities.”

Taylor admitted on February 26, 2019, while employed as a Corrections Officer at the Huttonsville Correctional Center, Adkins gave him quantities of methamphetamine and heroin to smuggle into the prison.  He further admitted that she paid him $500, and that he had smuggled drugs into Huttonsville on one prior occasion.  Adkins admitted giving Taylor the drugs and paying him to smuggle them into the prison where her son was incarcerated. 

After being alerted to the scheme by Huttonsville Correctional Center Investigators, members of the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force arrested Adkins and Taylor at set up surveillance in Craigsville where they observed Adkins give Taylor the package containing methamphetamine and heroin. 

Both Adkins and Taylor face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on January 13, 2020. 

The Huttonsville Correctional Center and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is handling the prosecution.

Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
 

 
###