Crime & Safety
Inmate, Girlfriend Accused Of Smuggling Opioids Into Jail
An inmate at the Pinellas County Jail and his girlfriend were arrested after being accused of selling opioids to other inmates at the jail.
CLEARWATER, FL — An inmate at the Pinellas County Jail and his girlfriend were arrested after being accused of selling opioids to other inmates at the jail.
On Tuesday, Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives charged 26-year-old inmate Jason Javante Davis and his 26-year-old girlfriend, Antoinette Leshawn Monroe of Rodgers Avenue in Largo, with introducing contraband into a detention facility.
According to detectives, Monroe was mailing Suboxone to Davis in the Pinellas County Jail, 14400 49th St. N., Clearwater. Davis in turn sold the Suboxone to other inmates, according to detectives.
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Suboxone is an addiction treatment medication used in opioid replacement therapy. As an opiate itself, it has potential for abuse because it blocks pain receptors and induces a mild euphoria.
The investigation began May 14 after detectives received that an inmate had purchased Suboxone strips from Davis. Through their investigation, detectives discovered Davis was receiving the drugs through the mail. When detectives searched Davis' mail on May 31, they found an envelope containing two Suboxone strips. Two more Suboxone strips were found in another envelope on June 4. Forensic analysis of both envelopes identified Monroe as the sender.
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Through interviews with inmates, detectives learned Davis sold approximately $600 worth of Suboxone while housed in the Pinellas County Jail.
On Sept. 24, Monroe was detained during a traffic stop in which marijuana and morphine were found in her possession. Monroe was arrested and charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of introducing contraband into a detention facility and driving on a suspended license.
Davis was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of introducing of contraband into a detention facility.
These charges were added to the charges he is currently incarcerated on.
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