HARRISBURG — A Virginia man and his son behind bars in Pennsylvania have been charged in a calculated scheme to sneak nearly 10 Oxycodone pills into federal prison, using coded messages and balloons as concealment. Donald Barlow, 58, of Bedford, Virginia, and Matthew Barlow, 28, an inmate at Allenwood Low Security Correctional Institution (LSCI), were charged by criminal information on May 9, 2019, with conspiracy to smuggle controlled substances into a federal facility.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania alleges the father and son exchanged electronic messages laced with coded language between June 2014 and August 30, 2014, plotting the delivery of 9.6 Oxycodone pills. The plan relied on Donald Barlow traveling from Virginia to the prison in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, where he would pass the concealed drugs during a visit in the prison’s visiting room.
Authorities say the pills were hidden inside balloons, a method increasingly used to bypass standard prison inspections. Despite the concealment, investigators intercepted the operation before the full delivery could be completed. The attempt underscores ongoing challenges in combating the flow of narcotics into federal correctional facilities.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, working closely with internal investigative staff at LSCI to uncover the smuggling ring. Evidence gathered from monitored inmate email exchanges proved pivotal in building the case, revealing the depth of coordination between Donald Barlow and his incarcerated son.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel handled the prosecution. If convicted, the defendants face federal penalties that include imprisonment, supervised release, and fines. However, under federal sentencing guidelines, the court must weigh the nature of the offense, the defendants’ backgrounds, and broader public safety concerns before imposing a sentence.
As of the filing, both Donald and Matthew Barlow are presumed innocent. Indictments and criminal informations are not proof of guilt. The case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to feed addiction behind bars — and the federal machinery waiting to respond.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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