A Beeville woman, Ashley Priscilla Garza, age 33, has pleaded guilty to smuggling contraband into a federal prison. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Garza, who was employed as a religious services assistant at the Federal Correctional Institution in Three Rivers, misused her position to facilitate the illicit activity.
According to the plea, Garza admitted to using her access to the facility to deliver contraband to an inmate over the years 2022 and 2023. The contraband included cigarettes, an MP3 player, and papers that contained synthetic opioids and other drugs. For her involvement in the smuggling operation, she received a series of 13 payments, accumulating to approximately $11,400. The discovery of her actions led to her termination.
Sentencing is scheduled to be imposed by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos on August 12. Garza faces a potential penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine that could reach $250,000. In the meantime, she is allowed to remain on bond until the sentencing hearing.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General, and the prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Chu and Robert Thorpe.