A corrections officer allegedly smuggled drugs into Shirley Prison

“The black market monetary value of paper containing synthetic cannabinoids at Shirley Prison is approximately $528,000.”

Inmates at MCI-Shirley (Christopher Burrell/New England Center for Investigative Reporting)

A corrections officer accused of smuggling drugs into Massachusetts’ medium-security prison in Shirley resigned last week, the Department of Corrections announced Sunday.

Roxsandra Wright was charged with providing an article to an inmate. She allegedly brought paper with synthetic cannabinoids to MCI-Shirley.

“The Massachusetts Department of Corrections requires all employees to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” interim DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said in a statement. “Any behavior that threatens the security of our facilities or undermines public trust will not be tolerated.”

Wright was arrested Saturday as part of an ongoing investigation by the DOC and Massachusetts State Police into drugs illegally entering prisons. The department said her resignation was effective Oct. 31.

Court documents show Wright was seen on live video last week talking to a Chon Son inmate while resting. Son walked up to the staff office, which is reserved exclusively for prisoners, and apparently handed two handballs back to Wright.

“The son was observed gesturing towards Office Wright and then quickly retrieving and placing an unknown package in his left jacket pocket,” the criminal complaint states. “Son appeared to have another brief conversation with Wright and Wright was observed walking around the desk in the office while holding a small roll of clear garbage bags.”

Court records show the son left the gym and was seen moving a package from his pocket to the back of his pants. He was stopped and searched, and the package was found inside a blue latex glove and a small plastic garbage bag “matching the roll” from Wright, the complaint said.

Court documents show the package contained 45 strips of paper, which amounted to about 15 full pages of paper. According to prosecutors, the strips appeared wet and tested positive for a known synthetic cannabinoid.

“The black market monetary value of paper containing synthetic cannabinoids at Shirley Prison is approximately $528,000,” court documents stated.

Court records show Wright previously resigned on September 30 to move with her sister to New Jersey and work for the state Department of Corrections.

When Wright learned Son had been detained, she tried to go home sick, court documents say. She is expected to be arraigned in Ayer District Court on Monday.

Molly Farrar is an assignment reporter at Boston.com focusing on education, politics, crime and more.

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