8 charged in Berks jail drug smuggling operation
Nov. 1—Berks County authorities say they've charged eight people in a scheme involving inmates and outside suspects smuggling Suboxone strips, marijuana, and other contraband into Berks County Prison.
A handful of inmates taught suspects on the outside how to disguise envelopes containing illegal items as legal mail, and smuggled in several packages, according to Berks County detectives.
Charges were filed Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Brian K. Strand.
Prison inmates Brian Oliver, 41; Bryan Williams, 30; Thomas Reimert, 32; and Andre Keyes, 38, were charged with possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, conspiracy and related charges.
Detectives said Ashley Pilozo, 21; Brittany Moyer, 27; Hazel Velasquez, 37; and David Marshall, 35, worked from outside the prison to obtain the items at the inmates' direction and hid the contraband in envelopes, which were sent to the prison disguised as mail from attorneys.
Pilozo, Moyer, Velasquez and Marshall were charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, conspiracy and related charges.
Moyer and Williams also were charged with three counts of sale or transfer of firearms.
Detectives gave the following account:
In mid-April, prison officials became aware of a scheme involving inmates smuggling drugs into the jail. The county detectives' narcotics unit initiated an investigation.
Detectives found that since March, at least four packages containing Suboxone strips, marijuana and other contraband had been received by inmates and that a fifth package was due to arrive in the next few days.
On April 21, prison officials seized a manila envelope stamped "Attorney/Client privilege" with the return address of a local lawyer's office.
The envelope contained an inch thick of paper with a hollowed-out space in the middle with a plastic packet containing more than 60 Suboxone strips. Suboxone is a drug prescribed to relieve the symptoms of opiate withdrawal but that can be abused to create a high.
Prison officials searched the cell block where the package was intended to go, and found used Suboxone stripes and a vape pen, which indicated several of the inmates' involvement.
Over the next few months, county detectives reviewed thousands of inmate audio and video communications recorded in March and April.
Investigators identified Oliver, Williams, Reimert and Keyes as inmates involved in the smuggling operation, who were working with outside cooperators Pilozo, Moyer, Velasquez and Marshall.
Detectives learned that Pilozo, Moyer and Velasquez would obtain the Suboxone strips from heroin addicts, clinics and drug dealers at the direction of the inmates.
David Marshall, who at the time was a resident of Wernersville Correctional Facility halfway house, was contacted by Thomas Reimert to obtain Suboxone. Marshall met with Pilozo and delivered the strips to her.
They would obtain marijuana vape pens from marijuana dispensaries as well as through people who possess a medical marijuana card.
Oliver, Williams and Keyes were heard instructing Pilozo, Moyer and Velasquez on how to create and disguise envelopes as legal mail to avoid detection. Moyer and Velasquez would assist Pilozo in preparing the disguised envelopes. Pilozo would then mail the packages to the inmates at the prison.
Detectives also found that Moyer was involved in the illegal straw purchase of guns for Williams.
It was determined that Moyer bought a total of three firearms for Williams since December 2020.
Six of the eight suspects are in custody. Pilozo and Moyer are expected to surrender Tuesday night, detectives said.
"I will be requesting consecutive sentences for all defendants committing these crimes while incarcerated in our county jail," Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said. "If they cannot observe the law while incarcerated and respect our criminal justice system, then they should receive lengthy periods of incarceration to preserve the integrity and security of our jail system."