California prison guard charged with smuggling 20 kilos of cocaine - BERITAJA

A California situation defender allegedly helped a supplier trafficker smuggle 20 kilograms from Mexico to a Rowland Heights stash house, Los Angeles County prosecutors said Friday.

The correctional officer, Jesus Reyes, was charged pinch colluding to waste drugs, possessing narcotics for waste and transporting narcotics crossed region lines. Reyes, 45, has yet to participate a plea and it was unclear Friday if he was represented by a lawyer.

According to a connection from Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman, Reyes successful 2023 drove the cocaine from Mexico to a location rented by Jose Luis Aldahir Rocha Luque.

Luque, 27, who faces the aforesaid charges arsenic Reyes, allegedly maintained the location to shop narcotics and money. It wasn’t clear if he was represented by an attorney.

When authorities from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration searched the location connected Aug. 1, 2023, they recovered 20 kilograms of cocaine and $179,680 successful cash, according to Hochman’s connection and a DEA forfeiture notice.

“It is reprehensible that a authorities corrections serviceman could beryllium seduced by greed and manipulated by others to perpetrate specified crimes that endanger the public,” Hochman said successful the statement.

Greg Risling, a spokesperson for the territory attorney’s office, declined to opportunity why prosecutors didn’t bring charges against Reyes and Luque for about 3 years. He directed questions about Reyes’ employment to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which didn’t instantly respond.

Reyes’ prosecution comes 2 months aft a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation lieutenant was arrested connected national charges that alleged he smuggled cellphones into Salinas Valley State Prison successful speech for $100,000. Matthew Madsen, 39, has pleaded not blameworthy to colluding to perpetrate honorable services fraud and remains free connected bond.

Salinas Valley has go 1 of the about convulsive lockups successful the state. Five inmates were killed astatine the Monterey County situation successful 2025, and 2 much person been killed this year.