The Department of Corrections says a woman has been arrested after attempting to drop off a large package of contraband at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center.
Officials say that Elayn Hunt Correctional Center officers captured the woman, an alleged drug trafficker, in the act of dropping off a large package of contraband in the prison’s parking lot at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
25-year-old April Matthews of Jackson, LA was arrested after she allegedly fled the scene in her vehicle. Officials say that this isn’t the first time she’s attempted to smuggle contraband into a Louisiana prison. Matthews allegedly tried almost two years ago, while she was a corrections officer at Louisiana State Penitentiary, according to DOC.
DOC says that during Matthew’s flight from the prison, she allegedly hit two parked vehicles, before ramming a Department of Corrections Unit that had attempted to block her exit.
She then allegedly drove away from the prison at a high rate of speed and proceeded down Highway 74 toward Gonzales before being stopped by Corrections officials, the St. Gabriel Police Department, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The Department of Corrections says that the package of contraband she was attempting to drop off allegedly contained 103.63 grams of marijuana, 30 strips of Suboxone, 90 pain pills, 12 cell phones, 9 phone chargers, four sim cards, 12 packs of Buglar Cigarettes, a 1-gallon bag of loose tobacco, various clothing, a pair of Air Jordan tennis shoes, cigarette lighters, earbuds, and rechargeable batteries.
The St. Gabriel Police Department booked Matthews on the following charges:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
- Possession of Schedule 3 Buprenorphine Sublingual (30 dosages)
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Legend Drug (90 dosages)
- Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Institution (9 counts)
- Attempted Aggravated Battery
- Simple Criminal Damage to Property
The Department of Corrections says that in May of 2017, Angola Corrections Officers busted Matthews allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into Louisiana State Penitentiary. She resigned from the Department of Corrections and was booked by West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Detectives then.
