Guard, Inmates Accused Of Smuggling Drugs Into Wyatt Prison

CENTRAL FALLS, RI — Five people are facing charges in connection with a scheme to smuggling contraband Suboxone into Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls. Two inmates, one correctional officer, a released detainee and another person were all charged, the acting Rhode Island. U.S. Attorney's Office said.

According to federal court documents, the scheme started in mid-February. Two inmates, Emmanuel Nolasco, 34, and Matthew Pizarro, 32, collaborated with former inmate Roosevelt Dale, 32, and Yahaira Cristina Contreras, 29, both of Providence, to get the Suboxone strips to correctional officer Kaii Almeida-Falcones, 25, who smuggled them ito the facility. Dale was released from Wyatt in May 2020 after he said he was at a heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.

On Feb. 15, the facility's Professional Standards Unit seized a "brick" of about 100 strips, along with about 70 loose strips, during a search of Nolasco’s cell. That same day, Almeida-Falcones was placed on paid administrative leave and ordered not to return to work until further notice.

The federal complaints charged all five with drug trafficking and providing contraband in prison. Almeida-Falcones, Contreras, and Dale were arrested Friday morning by members of the FBI and United States Marshals Service, with assistance the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan.

Dal was ordered held, while Almeida-Falcones and Contreras were released on conditions. Nolasco is being held in Wyatt ahead of a trail for unrelated charges, while Pizarro is being held at the U.S. penitentiary Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, Virginia.