ATWATER, Calif. — Three people are facing charges following the death of a correctional officer in Atwater, California. According to court documents, the officer fell ill shortly after opening a letter on August 9, 2024. The letter, falsely labeled as legal mail, had been sent to the prison and was later found to be laced with furanylfentanyl and other dangerous substances.
After medical staff evaluated the officer, he was rushed to the hospital where he died. Another officer, who also came into contact with the letter, experienced similar symptoms but has since recovered.
Court documents allege that a 35-year-old inmate at the prison, Jamar Jones, along with his girlfriend, Stephanie Ferreira, and 37-year-old Jermen Rudd III, conspired to introduce narcotics into the prison to sell. As part of that scheme, Jones and Ferreira had Rudd mail the letter to Jones.
Jones faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance, as well as obtaining or attempting to obtain narcotics while incarcerated. If convicted, he could face up to 50 years in prison. Rudd, charged with providing or attempting to provide an inmate with narcotics, along with conspiracy and distribution, also faces a maximum sentence of 50 years. Ferreira is charged with conspiracy and distribution of a controlled substance, as well as providing or attempting to provide narcotics to an inmate, and could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.
The prison staff member’s cause of death remains undetermined pending toxicology reports, but authorities said he had no other obvious physical cause of death other than the narcotics.