Jessie Wooden, a 36-year-old from Miami, has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Wooden could face a minimum of ten years in federal prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. A date for sentencing has not yet been determined.
Court records reveal that on March 10, 2024, while serving time at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County, Wooden was involved in an incident where surveillance captured him receiving contraband during visitation. Correctional officers seized a bag containing 78 grams of methamphetamine after it was thrown to him. During an interview with law enforcement, Wooden admitted to having visitors smuggle contraband into the facility and acknowledged his intention to distribute the methamphetamine within the prison.
The case is part of a broader initiative by the United States Department of Justice aimed at addressing contraband and misconduct within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This task force includes contributions from several agencies: the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is prosecuting this case.