Feds Allege Texas Woman, Inmate Smuggled Fentanyl into Pa. Prison

Feds Allege Texas Woman, Inmate Smuggled Fentanyl into Pa. Prison

SCRANTON, Pa. – A federal indictment unsealed in the Middle District of Pennsylvania reveals a sordid tale of fentanyl smuggling, with a 37-year-old Texas woman and a 30-year-old federal inmate collaborating to bring the deadly opioid into the United States Penitentiary in Canaan.

Julian Beavers, 37, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Canaan, Wayne County, Pa., and Feniqua Walker, 30, of Fort Worth, Texas, were indicted on May 28, 2024, by a federal grand jury on charges of attempting to provide fentanyl to an inmate at USP Canaan. According to court documents, the duo allegedly attempted to introduce the illicit substance between January 13, 2023, and April 13, 2023.

“This case highlights the ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic and the brazen attempts by individuals to smuggle these deadly substances into our nation’s prisons,” said United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice.”

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Special Investigative Services Unit at USP Canaan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenn P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

Beavers and Walker face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. However, it’s essential to note that an indictment is merely an allegation and not a finding of guilt. A sentence following a conviction will be determined by the court after considering applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania remains committed to combating the opioid crisis and bringing those responsible for these crimes to justice. As this case demonstrates, individuals who attempt to smuggle illicit substances into our nation’s prisons will be held accountable for their actions.