BOSTON (AP) – A former Bristol County correctional officer pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to corruption and smuggling heroin into the county jail, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced.
Jeffrey Dacosta, 32, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to defraud state taxpayers of his honest services, conspiring to possess heroin with intent to distribute and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
Prosecutors said Dacosta, who worked as a property coordinator at the Bristol County sheriff’s office, allowed an inmate use his phone several times in May and June 2000 to order heroin from someone outside the jail. He then smuggled heroin into the facility, each time receiving $1,000 cash.
Dacosta is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8. He faces up to 20 years in prison, 5 years of probation and a $2 million fine.
AP-ES-05-17-04 1842EDT
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