ECI affidavits show CO Waters may have been key player

As we sift though legal documents 47 ABC is slowly uncovering more information about the  alleged drug smuggling conspiracy at Eastern Correctional Institution.

Some of our early findings show that correctional officer Robert Waters could be one of the key components of this alleged drug smuggling conspiracy.

One of the affidavits show Eugene Bowen, father of prisoner Orlando Bowen would deliver the items to Waters for Waters to smuggle into the prison. Those items included suboxone strips, wrist watches and K2, a form of synthetic marijuana.

The affidavit also showed that Waters may have been working with people as far as Baltimore to acquire contraband by request of an inmate named Zachary Martin who went by the alias DICE. 

DICE allegedly had connections to four or more people that would work purchase and pay for synthetic weed in the city,then transfer it to waters for him to get back to DICE. 

All the money used for these transactions was allegedly transferred through pay pal.

Also reportedly enlisted in Waters’ operation, Darren Dale of Salisbury. Court documents showing Dale had conversations with those in the city to decide when and where to pick up the contraband and then would make  subsequent trips to meet up with them. 

The most telling though on just how much contraband Waters was moving may have come earlier this year when Waters was pulled over for speeding in Talbot County. 

Court documents showing that during the traffic stop Waters was found to have 91 packages of synthetic marijuana. 

Waters was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, a felony charge and two other lesser misdemeanor charges.

All charges weren’t prosecuted.  We asked the Talbot County States Attorneys office why that was and were told they were not at liberty to discuss the matter because of Waters federal indictment.
   
The affidavit goes on to read that Waters would keep his job at ECI after the arrest.
The state department of corrections cleared up why that was. Officials telling 47 ABC that because of the correctional officers bill of rights,  since Waters wasn’t convicted he was allowed to go on paid administrative leave while he attended drug classes.

Waters was however scheduled to have an administrative hearing about his employment status, but officials say that was pending at the time of his federal indictment. 

Waters is now on unpaid leave pending the outcome of his federal charges.