Prison officer fired, four others charged with alleged drug smuggling into prison

The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office has filed drug conspiracy charges against a former correctional officer and four others.

According to a statement from the sheriff's office, the charges, which stem from an investigation the NCSO launched on Aug. 1, were filed in addition to the officer against “two justice-involved individuals” held at the agency's correctional center in Dedham, as well as two women known to the men.

The people involved were correctional officer Jean Guirand, 40, of Saugus; offender Dante Clarke, 25, of Dorchester; offender Cornel Bell, 29, of Quincy; Avelina Faustin, 20, of Brockton; and Amaya Rogers, 27, of Boston, authorities said. They are all charged with conspiracy, delivery of drugs to a correctional facility and possession of a Class B substance with intent to resell.

The investigation was launched after findings emerged that a probation officer hired in April was allegedly involved in illegal activities, the statement said.

“The Norfolk County Sheriff acted immediately upon receiving the information,” Sheriff Patrick McDermott said in the statement. “This officer was confronted before beginning his shift that same day and admitted to giving the narcotics to the offenders.”

Officer Guirand was placed on leave, escorted from the premises and fired on Aug. 2, McDermott said.

Investigators say Guirand said Clarke asked him to “bring something for him.” After initially refusing Clarke's help, Guirand allegedly agreed when he was offered $5,000 for his help.

Guirand told investigators he never received the money from Clarke and was “not sure why he was recruited by them.”

Officials said Suboxone, one of the main drugs used to treat opioid addiction and a common contraband drug in correctional facilities, was hidden in a Wendy's fast food bag that Rogers gave to Guirand on July 29.

Guirand hid the drugs in garbage bags and gave them to Clarke, the statement said. On the instructions of Clarke and Bell, Faustin gained access to the drugs and gave them to Rogers to hand over.

238 strips of Suboxone were found “hidden in two pomade containers from the perpetrators' cells,” the statement said.

The approximate value of the stripes in a correctional facility is $47,600, according to the bureau.

“This officer has betrayed the honor of the men and women who serve with honesty and integrity as dedicated correctional officers in Norfolk County,” McDermott said. “We are committed to hiring men and women of good character to ensure that those hired by our agency and those entrusted with leadership are grounded in the fundamentals of our mission and values.”

All suspects will appear for hearings in Dedham District Court in early October.