Drexel Hill Woman Took Drugs Into Delco Prison For Boyfriend: DA

A Drexel Hill woman has been accused of sneaking drugs into Delaware County's prison for her boyfriend, and she is now facing felony charges in connection with the alleged contraband, authorities said.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland said Thursday that Heather Stamm, 35, of Drexel Hill, is facing felony contraband charges for sneaking suboxone into the George W. Hill Correctional Facility for her boyfriend, inmate Joseph Terranova, 36, who is also facing charges in connection with the incident.

Stamm is facing charges of contraband and conspiracy, both felonies of the second degree, and delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, an ungraded felony, the DA's office said. Terranova is facing the same charges, according to the DA's office.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant Lawrence Patterson and Detective Louis Grandizio of the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and investigators and correctional officers with the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.

At about 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 6, Terranova was searched by correctional officers following a visit with Stamm.

During the search, officers discovered several orange bags of suboxone, a Schedule III controlled substance, in inmate Terranova’s folded visitor’s pass, the DA's office said.

Stamm was interviewed and admitted that she brought 22 strips of suboxone into the prison and gave them to Terranova, according to the DA's office.

She told investigators that there were eight more sealed packs of suboxone in her vehicle, which was parked on prison property, all of which was later recovered from the vehicle, the DA's office said.

In response to the report of contraband in the prison, Patterson and Grandizio responded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and met with Stamm, who waived her Miranda Rights, the DA's office said.

She spoke with the detectives and admitted that she knowingly brought the suboxone into the prison and gave them to Terranova, according to the DA's office. She also advised them of the additional suboxone in her vehicle, the DA's office said.

"Bringing drugs into a correctional facility is a serious felony offense and those who attempt to do so in Delaware County will be arrested and prosecuted," Copeland said. "In the case of inmate Joseph Terranova, even while incarcerated, he could not refrain from committing a crime, and instead conspired with his girlfriend, Heather Stamm, to surreptitiously bring drugs into the prison, intending on selling the suboxone and lining his pockets with money. I would like to commend the correctional officers at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and CID for their investigative efforts that led to the arrests in this case."

Stamm's bail was set at ten percent of $50,000. Her preliminary hearing date is scheduled for Aug. 16.

A detainer was lodged with the prison for Terranova.

Images via Delaware County District Attorney's Office