Guard, inmates accused of helping smuggle drugs, other contraband into Leavenworth detention center

A guard, two inmates and relatives took part in a scheme to smuggle drugs and other contraband into a federal detention facility in Leavenworth, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Monday as he announced federal charges in the case.

The guard, Antonio Aiono, 28, of Platte City, and the inmates were accused of smuggling methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes into the Corrections Corp. of America Detention Center, where people facing federal crimes are held pending trial.

Aiono is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and providing methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana and tobacco products to inmates.

Inmates Stephen Rowlette, 35, and Karl Carter, 41, were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana and tobacco products.

Prosecutors also charged three people outside the facility. Rowlette’s wife, Alica Tackette, 29, of Independence; his mother, Catherine Rowlette, 59, of Sedalia, Mo.; and David Bishop, 68, of Sedalia, are accused of providing the drugs to the inmates.

Authorities launched an investigation last year after learning that contraband was entering the facility regularly, Grissom said. Corrections Corp. of America, a private company, contracts with the U.S. Bureau of Corrections to house the defendants.

Inmates allegedly took deliveries during an Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program, in the facility’s law library and during church services.

In phone calls from the facility, inmates told family members and friends how to get money to the drug suppliers, according to the charges. In some cases they argued over the phone about how to purchase money transfers. They also talked about getting “blistered,” or high on drugs, and walking around “like zombies” behind bars.

The inmates allegedly devised a scheme to receive money by having it hidden under letter-size white envelopes taped to the front of larger manila envelopes with the names of law firms on them.

“In this situation, it was a substantial amount of money that these drugs were costing people,” Grissom said.

An inmate said a pack of cigarettes cost $150 inside the facility. Synthetic marijuana was measured and sold by inmates in lids for chapped-lip balm for $50 each.

Grissom said that authorities are continuing their investigation and that other people may be charged.

“This wasn’t a few guys working together. This was a system, a scheme that involved a number of individuals that goes beyond those who have been named so far,” he said.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Guard, inmates accused of helping smuggle drugs, other contraband into Leavenworth detention center."