HARRISBURG, Pa. — Charges have been filed against two former Dauphin County corrections officers after they allegedly brought and distributed drugs inside the prison.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division and the Dauphin County Drug Task Force began investigating drug trafficking involving inmates and other parties in 2023. The drug trafficking reportedly involved the use of Cash App for the money transfer.
On Dec. 8, 2023, a confidential source met with police and advised that they had information on a corrupt corrections officer who was smuggling contraband into the prison. The corrections officer was later identified as Quennel White, 34, from Harrisburg.
According to surveillance footage, White was captured meeting with an inmate inside the prison, who was later surveyed meeting with other inmates.
Based on the actions caught on prison surveillance video, two inmates' cells were searched.
During the search, prison officials allegedly found drug-laced paper, suspected narcotics (later identified as a small bag of cocaine and probable synthetic marijuana) as well as a handwritten recipe for making Fentanyl laced paper.
Also inside an inmate's cell was an ID/index card size piece of paper, which was later ION scanned and showed detectable amounts of K2/Spice (schedule 1 controlled substance) and an analog of Fentanyl (schedule 2 controlled substance), according to prison officials. A further investigation revealed that the drug-laced paper could be broken down into numerous small, finger-tip-sized flakes which could be sold off and smoked or ingested.
White's phone was analyzed by investigators, who reportedly discovered numerous text messages between himself and an inmate.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, White admitted to bringing in "paper" and also what he believed were Suboxone strips in a purple medical glove finger.
On Feb. 15, Dauphin County Prison officials became aware that another corrections officer, Trey Flythe, 28, from York, was allegedly bringing contraband into the prison.
A search was conducted and Flythe was reportedly asked to empty his pockets. Investigators allegedly found a wallet with a white powdery substance/residue inside along with a cut straw. On Feb. 16, investigators positively identified the white substance as cocaine.
The cut straw, according to police, is a common device of drug paraphernalia used to easily consume cocaine and additional substances.
Flythe is facing two drug-related charges, according to online court documents. White has been charged with criminal use of a communication facility. criminal conspiracy to manufacture, deliver or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver, manufacturing, delivering or possessing with intent to manufacture or deliver and contraband/controlled substance.
According to prison officials, both men are no longer employed at the prison.