Jury Finds Pollock Prisoner Guilty of Drug Possession

ALEXANDRIA, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Roy Elbert Carlton, 41, a Pollock prisoner, was found guilty Tuesday by a federal jury of possessing drugs in a federal prison. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial.

Carlton’s trial started Monday and ended Tuesday afternoon with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for 20 minutes. Witness testimony and documents admitted at trial revealed that Whitney C. Anderson visited Carlton February 20, 2010 at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, Louisiana. During the visit, one of the children present was sitting on Carlton’s lap. The defendant was seen taking something out of the child’s pocket and then swallowing it. The visit was terminated, and Carlton was taken to a dry cell for observation. He passed what appeared to be balloon fragments and other material that tested positive for the presence of marijuana.

Anderson pleaded guilty July 15, 2013 to one count of providing contraband to a prisoner. She faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for October 28, 2013.

Carlton faces five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for possession of drugs in a federal prison. Sentencing is set for October 30, 2013.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. France and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg are prosecuting the case.