Stillwater Prison Guard Helped Inmate Boyfriend Distribute Meth: Feds

STILLWATER, MN — A former corrections officer has pleaded guilty to her role in a methamphetamine distribution network at the state prison in Stillwater, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announced Wednesday.

Faith Rose Gratz, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Gratz worked at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, which is the state's largest high-security prison.

Gratz conspired with an inmate — with who she was romantically involved — to distribute methamphetamine in the prison, authorities said. Her co-defendant is Axel Rene Kramer, 34, an inmate who is currently serving a 288-month sentence for second-degree murder.

Kramer obtained wholesale quantities of prepackaged methamphetamine from sources of supply outside the prison, and Gratz would pick up the drug packages, according to authorities.

Gratz then smuggled the drugs into the facility and gave them to Kramer while she was on duty guarding him, investigators said. She did this about six times, according to authorities.

Gratz also smuggled cell phones into the prison for Kramer, who used them to coordinate with his drug distribution network, investigators said.

Gratz and Kramer exchanged hundreds of text messages with each other, including about the drug distribution conspiracy but also their romantic relationship, according to authorities.

Gratz also warned Kramer about upcoming searches of inmates’ cells, but officers eventually found his phone, investigators said.

On April 8, officers searched Gratz’s car and found a half pound of methamphetamine, according to authorities.