Edward R. Harris, 42, a federal inmate, is serving three more months behind bars — this time for smuggling marijuana into the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Harris pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Johnstown to possessing a prohibited object in prison, a charge that adds time to an already lengthy sentence.
The offense dates back to January 9, 2017, when prison authorities discovered Harris in possession of a quantity of marijuana — a controlled substance strictly banned inside federal correctional facilities. Despite being locked up, Harris attempted to bring contraband into the system, violating federal rules and triggering a criminal prosecution.
U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson accepted Harris’s guilty plea and immediately imposed the three-month sentence, to run consecutive to the term he is already serving. In addition, Harris was handed three years of supervised release, which will begin upon his eventual release from federal custody.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines, who argued for accountability within the prison system. “Prison is not a free pass to break the law,” Haines said during sentencing proceedings. “Contraband like drugs undermines security, endangers staff and inmates, and will be met with federal charges.”
The investigation was led by the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in tandem with the Special Investigative Staff at FCI Loretto. Their joint probe uncovered the illicit possession and built a case fast, leading to Harris’s swift conviction.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady praised the work of law enforcement, stating that even behind bars, criminal behavior won’t be tolerated. “This sentence sends a clear message,” Brady said. “Prison walls don’t shield inmates from accountability.”
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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