Man wears ghillie suit in attempt to smuggle contraband into federal prison

Lewisburg, Pa. — Police say a man from Baltimore, Maryland, wore a ghillie suit in an attempt to sneak into the U.S. Penitentiary in Lewisburg.

James Terrell Hampton-Smith, 36, was arrested around 1:30 a.m. Aug. 14 after prison staff spotted him crawling over a fence on the prison grounds in Kelly Township. Trooper Nathan Wenzel of PSP Milton said staff saw Hampton-Smith crawling in a ghillie suit with a black duffle bag, according to the affidavit. The fence was posted with no trespassing signs.

Police believe Hampton-Smith wore the ghillie suit to evade prison staff and conceal himself. When police arrived, they found contraband in Hampton-Smith's duffle bag including 19 THC vape meds, a small amount of suspected spice, one bag of suspected THC paper, 121 unidentified pills, and 120 unwrapped vape pens. He also had cell phones, cigarettes, phone chargers, and a utility cutting tool. Hampton-Smith's intent was to deliver the contraband to inmates at the prison, according to the affidavit.

Hampton-Smith was charged with felony counts of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal trespass, misdemeanor defiant trespass, and related drug charges. District Judge Jeffrey A. Rowe set bail at $50,000. Hampton-Smith remains in Union County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 5 at Rowe's office.

Docket Sheet