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Disgraced prison employee arrested again; caught smuggling drugs into correctional center

4 years 11 months 2 weeks ago Tuesday, April 09 2019 Apr 9, 2019 April 09, 2019 8:18 PM April 09, 2019 in News
Source: WBRZ

ST. GABRIEL - Police have arrested a woman for a second time after she was caught trying to smuggle drugs and contraband to prisoners.

The former Angola employee, 25-year-old April Matthews, was taken into custody while still on probation Tuesday afternoon.

The St. Gabriel police chief tells WBRZ Matthews was caught trying to smuggle drugs into Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. When she was approached by officials, Matthews reportedly fled the scene, attempted to run over the warden, then led police on a high-speed chase that ended on Highway 74 into Ascension Parish.

Authorities recovered 12 mobile phones, marijuana, tobacco products, and controlled substances totaling around $30,000. A pair of Air Jordan tennis shoes were also with the packaged contraband.

In 2017, Matthews resigned as a corrections officer from Angola for a similar crime.

On Tuesday evening she was first booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on traffic charges. She is currently being held at the jail in Iberville Parish and faces charges related to drug and contraband offenses.

The WBRZ Investigative Unit learned Wednesday the investigation was turned over to the FBI. Authorities say Matthews allegedly dropped off a bag containing contraband in a trash can and was filmed on surveillance video. Chief Kevin Ambeau said she was paid $3,000 for the job.

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