Jerry Defazio, Smuggling Contraband to Inmates, Pennsylvania 2023

A 14-month prison sentence was handed down to Jerry Defazio, a former Lackawanna County Prison employee, for his role in providing and attempting to provide prohibited objects, including illegal drugs, to inmates at the facility.

Defazio, 40, of Archbald, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to providing and attempting to provide contraband in prison. He admitted that between November 2015 and April 2016, while working at the prison, he provided and attempted to provide Oxycontin pills (oxycodone), suboxone, and tobacco to inmates on several occasions and received payments ranging from $50 to $600 for smuggling the drugs and tobacco into the prison.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Defazio’s actions put the safety of both inmates and prison staff at risk. The investigation revealed that Defazio smuggled the prohibited items into the prison on multiple occasions, compromising the security of the facility.

To date, three people have been charged in connection with the investigation. Deanna Tallo previously pleaded guilty to providing contraband in prison, and Thomas Coss pleaded guilty to obtaining and possessing contraband in prison. Both are awaiting sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.

Sr. U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo sentenced Defazio to 14 months’ imprisonment followed by two years’ supervised release. This sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those who compromise the safety and security of our prisons.

Defazio’s actions not only put the inmates at risk but also undermined the trust and confidence that the public has in our correctional facilities. We hope that this sentence sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

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