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Last updated on Monday, August 27, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The former Wabash Valley Correctional Facility guard arrested Wednesday morning during an FBI raid at his home on federal charges is being held without bond in the Marion County lockup in Indianapolis.
Nick Schneider of Greene County Daily World reports that Jon Dobbins, 37, was among 40 people indicted by a federal grand jury this week on a variety of charges surrounding a drug ring involving sold heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs at three state prisons using cellphones smuggled in by guards.
It is alleged that Dobbins smuggled a cellphone to an inmate to conduct drug deals
Dobbins is charged with possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II Non-Narcotic Controlled Substance.
He appeared in U.S. District Court on Wednesday afternoon and is being held until a detention hearing Tuesday.
"The judge will rule then on whether he is released or detained in jail (until his trial)," according to Tim Horty, who serves as Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Attorney's office.
Dobbins was employed as a correctional officer for 16 years. He was dismissed July 15 following his arrest on state charges for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Class B Felony, Trafficking, a Class C Felony, and three Class A Misdemeanors; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Law Enforcement and Battery, according to Rich Larsen, public information officer at WVCF in Carlisle.
Court documents allege that Dobbins was found "in possession" of nearly 20.7 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, of which 13.1 grams was pure methamphetamine. The indictment also alleges that Dobbins had a cellphone that he intended to "clandestinely bring" into the prison and leave with an inmate.
The 27-page, 26-count indictment refers to multiple prison guards being involved.
Horty told the Greene County Daily World that prosecutors had no further comment on the indictment.
According to the indictment, between June 2011 and August, inmates coordinated buying meth, heroin, PCP and acid from California and Chicago and having it shipped to Indiana, where correction officers would smuggle some of the drugs and cellphones behind bars.
In the indictment, Dobbins and the other defendants were notified of the prosecution's intent to seek forfeiture of property that was derived from any proceeds directly or indirectly as the result of any of the criminal offenses, as part of any sentence.
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