Former G.E.O. Guard Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Agreeing to Smuggle Crystal Methamphetamine into Facility

In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced a former employee of the Central Texas Detention Facility – GEO (GEO) to 57 months imprisonment for agreeing to provide crystal methamphetamine to an inmate inside the federal detention facility announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division and U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered that 28–year–old Abigail Jolynn Abrego be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term.  Judge Rodriguez also sentenced Abrego’s co-defendant and boyfriend, 55–year–old Leonard Belmares, to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Judge Rodriguez ordered Abrego and Belmares to surrender to federal authorities on or before November 30, 2018, to begin serving their respective prison terms.

Earlier this year, both defendants pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to providing contraband in prison.  By pleading guilty, they admitted that in November 2017, they met with an undercover agent and agreed to smuggle methamphetamine into the facility and give it to an inmate in exchange for $1,500.  They also admitted to working together on at least three previous occasions to smuggle drugs and/or contraband into the facility in exchange for money.

“I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and our U.S. Marshals Service personnel on their collaborative success in this investigation,” said U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau. “Their hard work and diligent efforts resulted in justice being served today.”

The Federal Bureau Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.