Adam Spindler, a former correctional officer at the Goose Creek Correctional Center (GCCC), signed a plea deal on Aug. 15 agreeing to plead guilty to charges related to smuggling drugs in to inmates.
Spindler was arrested on May 23 after an investigation headed by the FBI. Department of Corrections officials had contacted the FBI because they suspected Spindler was bringing drugs into GCCC.
As part of their investigation, FBI agents watched Spindler, who at one point was seen with a suspected female drug courier shortly before going to work, charging documents show. When Spindler arrived at GCCC that day, he saw a K-9 unit and gave a bag containing heroin and marijuana to a fellow correctional officer leaving GCCC property, telling them it contained only personal use marijuana. The correctional officer later turned the bag in after finding out about the investigation into Spindler and discovering more than marijuana in the bag.
In his plea agreement, Spindler admitted to meeting with inmates’ drug associates and making deals with them in order to get drugs he would then smuggle into the prison via his personal belongings. While charging documents and his plea agreement did not specify how many inmates he did this for, investigators noted he met with several different inmates’ drug associates and that he began working for the DOC in April 2013.
Spindler will plead guilty to a single count each of drug conspiracy and possession of drugs with intent to distribute, both of which are felonies. He will serve a minimum of three years for each charge and faces up to 20 years in prison for each, as well as a fine of up to $100,000 for each charge. He has also agreed to forfeit his vehicle, which was seized during the investigation.
Online court records show his plea hearing has been scheduled for Monday morning before Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess in Anchorage.
