Multiple charged in Del. prison contraband investigation

DOVER, Del. – Four people have been charged following an investigation into the flow of contraband into prison facilities.

On Monday, officials say an on-site drug investigation at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center revealed that 36-year-old Tyshekia Thomas was seen passing one or more concealed packages to 39-year-old Markeevis McDougal, an inmate, during a scheduled visit. McDougal was removed from the visitation area, and a search of his person led officials to find three packages of approximately 8.93 grams of suspected marijuana, as well as 140 Suboxone strips weighing roughly 18.64 grams.

McDougal was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a tier 2 quantity, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, promoting prison contraband, second degree conspiracy, and promoting prison contraband. He remains incarcerated at JTVCC, where officials say he is serving a 23-year sentence for assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. He has been in custody since 2019.

Officers at JTVCC subsequently contacted Delaware State Police, who responded to the facility to arrest Thomas. She was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a tier 2 quantity, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, promoting prison contraband, second degree conspiracy, and promoting prison contraband, and was released on her own recognizance.

This comes after a similar but unrelated investigation by the facility that resulted in the arrest of two for trying to smuggle drugs into the facility earlier this year. During a scheduled inmate visit on September 28th, officials say 34-year-old Amaryllis Figueroa was seen exhibiting suspicious behavior consistent with passing a concealed object to an inmate, identified as 39-year-old Jamaal Dearry. He was found in possession of a package containing approximately 22.92 grams of paper laced with suspected synthetic cannabinoids, 40 doses of sublingual Buprenorphine strips, and approximately 4.64 grams of suspected marijuana. He was subsequently charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a tier 2 and a tier 3 quantity, promoting prison contraband, and possession of marijuana other than personal use quantity. Dearry has been in custody since 2014 and is serving a 15-year sentence for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited.

Delaware State Police arrested Figueroa and charged her with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a tier 2 and a tier 3 quantity and promoting prison contraband. She was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.