3 charged in attempt to smuggle drugs into jail, officials say

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Multiple people, including an inmate, have been charged with conspiring to smuggle drugs into the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail, officials said.

According to the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Kardell Samuel, 20, of Baton Rouge, conspired with inmate Dervell Barnes, 36, to smuggle illegal narcotics into the jail.

Deputies were tipped off about the conspiracy by jail administrators on Tuesday, March 7, said Sheriff Mike Cazes.

They seized 108 grams of methamphetamine and 46 buprenorphine (Suboxone) sublingual strips and arrested two people, he added.

According to the sheriff’s office, Samuel was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and buprenorphine, as well as conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility. Barnes was charged with conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility.

Another person was later connected to the conspiracy after narcotics detectives learned about a location in Baton Rouge with connections to the two suspects, according to officials.

Baton Rouge police officers executed a search warrant of the property and seized 4.5 pounds of marijuana and four firearms, two of which were stolen, and arrested a person who was there, officials added.

Deputies said James Gianelloni, 45, of Baton Rouge, was charged with possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine and buprenorphine, as well as conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility.

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