Evansville woman facing charges after correctional officer death in California

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – A federal investigation leads to three arrests, including an Evansville native, in connection to the death of a correctional officer in California.

On August 9, a correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater opened a narcotics-laced letter and fell ill minutes later. It is said the officer passed away at the hospital. Another officer was said to have come into contact with the letter but recovered after feeling ill.

Court documents show Stephanie Ferriera, Jamar Jones and Jermen Rudd III conspired to introduce narcotics into the USP in Atwater. It is said a part of the scheme included mailing a letter laced with narcotics that was fraudulently labeled as legal mail.

Ferriera’s charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance
• Providing or Attempting to Provide Inmate with Narcotic Drug

Jones’ charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance
• Inmate Obtaining or Attempting to Obtain Narcotic Drug

Rudd’s charges:

• Conspiracy to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance
• Providing or Attempting to Provide Inmate with Narcotic Drug

This case is a federal investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Following the arrests made, Ferreira is set to be arraigned in the Southern District of Indiana, while Rudd will be arraigned in the Eastern District of Missouri. Jones will appear in court in Fresno for his initial appearance next week.

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