Virginia jail officer in training charged with smuggling cell phone, charger into facility

SUSSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A former officer in training with the Virginia Department of Corrections has been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle a cell phone and charger into a state prison facility in Sussex County.

According to the department, Kanasia Taylor was arrested by Virginia State Police on Wednesday, March 27, and charged with illegal possession of a wireless telecommunications device by a prisoner of committed person, which is a Class 6 felony.

According to the department, at around 11:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Taylor was about to step onto the body scanner at the front entrance of Sussex I State Prison when she put a black hair scrunchie onto a desk nearby.

A corrections officer found a cell phone and charger concealed inside of the scrunchie. It was determined that Taylor had arranged to smuggle the phone and charger into the prison for an inmate in exchange for money.

“This arrest demonstrates that the risk of smuggling contraband into VADOC facilities far outweighs any possible reward,” said VADOC Director Chad Dotson. “Those who attempt to smuggle items into our facilities will face punishment to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you to the employees at Sussex I State Prison who caught this smuggling attempt and to our partners at Virginia State Police for their support.”

This incident is still under investigation.

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