BECKLEY, WV (WOAY)- There was a major contraband interception of items with a prison value of $100,000 at Beckley Federal Correctional Institution this weekend.
Yesterday, officers with the sheriff’s office responded to reports of a possible contraband delivery at the facility’s recreational yard. FCI officers observed a black male exiting the woods by the prison, and after notifying deputies, the suspect, Julius Covington, was quickly located.
Covington claimed to deputies that he was lost, although it was revealed he had a cell phone connected to an inmate who was under surveillance for coordinating these exchanges. Covington was found with three wrapped packages containing phones, chargers, a list of names/emails for setup, a vape pen, and five sheets of paper laced with meth.
Covington later admitted to working with another unknown individual to smuggle these into the prison for distribution. He was charged with Contraband to Jail and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
Raleigh County Sheriff Frank Priddy would like to thank the agencies that worked together in this investigation. Newswatch will update if we receive further information.
