CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. — The Chester County District Attorney's Office has announced the arrest of a correctional officer for allegedly smuggling illegal substances into the prison he worked at.
Antoine Williams, 27, from Philadelphia, has been charged with eight counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, eight counts of dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity and related offenses, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office.
“Prison procedures led to the discovery of the distribution of illegal substances and as soon as it was confirmed, staff gathered information on how it could have entered the prison," said Chester County Acting Warden Howard Holland. "That information was immediately turned over to the Chester County Detectives for investigation. I am proud of the team here at the prison for acting quickly on this matter.”
According to Williams' criminal complaint, on June 25, 2023, an inmate at the Chester County Prison advised a correctional officer that Williams had been bringing drugs into the prison by hiding them in small trash bag rolls.
The inmate reportedly told the correctional officer that his former cellmate received Suboxone from Williams and, in return, he was paid on a cash app by another person.
Later that day, a search of the entire Chester County Prison L-block was conducted. Guards reportedly found a roll of small trash bags in the inmate's cell and his urine sample tested positive for Buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone.
On June 27, a lieutenant at the Chester County Prison reportedly spoke with another inmate who alleged Williams distributes Suboxone, tobacco and K-2 to inmates on L-block by placing the drugs in a glove or small trash bag. The inmate alleged that Williams is paid using a cash app and that he uses another inmate to further distribute the illegal substances to other inmates.
On June 30, detectives reviewed the Chester County Prison security cameras, which allegedly showed Williams placing a roll of trash bags on cell bars on L-block.
Investigators met with the inmate suspected of further distributing the drugs, who alleged that Williams had brought Suboxone, marijuana and Percocet into the Chester County Prison on multiple occasions.
On Sept. 15, detectives received records that indicated nine different cash app accounts were related to Williams. From June 5 to June 23, 2023, there were reportedly numerous cash app payments made, ranging from $50 to $400.
Williams has a preliminary hearing scheduled on Oct. 18. His bail was set at $150,000.
