SCI-Fayette officers, ex-prisoner charged in drug smuggling operation
Two SCI-Fayette corrections officers and a former inmate are accused of conspiring to smuggle drugs into the prison.
Officers Beau Angelo, 37, of Uniontown, and Charity Thompson, 40, of McClellandtown, were charged Monday along with Vadol Lewis, 33, of Pittsburgh.
According to their criminal complaints, Angelo and Thompson admitted to bringing illegal drugs into the prison multiple times in exchange for payment from inmates. Drugs came via shipments from Lewis, a former inmate at the prison who had since been released, according to the complaint.
The officers are no longer employed with the Department of Corrections, the state attorney general’s office said.
The attorney general’s office filed the charges after a recommendation from a statewide grand jury.
“This case involves a betrayal of sworn oaths to protect the public, and conduct that threatens the public’s confidence in all officers with duties to keep their communities safe,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. “I commend the work of the investigative agencies who acted professionally and diligently to uncover this criminal organization, and thank the grand jurors for committing their precious time to hear testimony that led to the filing of serious charges.”
The investigation began in late 2024 after a confidential informant told a state police trooper that Angelo had agreed to bring drugs to prisoners for a fee, the complaint said.
In exchange for delivering papers soaked in the drug K2 and Suboxone, the inmate would pay Angelo $3,500 through a Cash App account, the confidential informant told police. The informant also talked directly with Angelo about bringing a sheet of K2 into the prison and how much Angelo nets from the sales, the complaint said.
A second informant set up a buy with Angelo for Suboxone, K2 and a cellphone for $3,500, which investigators paid to him through Cash App over several installments, according to court paperwork.
Investigators then sent a package with replica contraband to Angelo’s house in January 2025. The complaint said they worked in connection with investigators from the U.S. Postal Service, which had noted a number of suspicious packages arriving since December 2024.
Acting on a search warrant, police found an open package, criminal docket sheets, a miniature cellphone, a rubber balloon containing Suboxone, and firearms in Angelo’s house, the complaint said.
During police questioning, Angelo admitted to bringing drugs into the prison three times, and said Thompson was also involved in bringing drugs to the prison, according to court documents.
Investigators found e-mails between Thompson and another inmate with whom she was suspected of having an inappropriate relationship in which they discussed how to smuggle contraband, the complaints allege. The inmate would also coordinate tasks in phone conservations with his mother, which included sending money and delivering a package to “wifey” — who investigators later determined was Thompson, court documents said.
A search of Thompson’s home found items including a USPS priority mail envelope with blank paper, inmate letters, a handgun and computers. Thompson also told police they would find sheets of K2 in her bedroom, the complaint said.
Thompson’s affidavit of probable cause said she told police she had brought drugs into the prison “less than 10 times.”
An analysis of Thompson’s phone showed phone contact with the inmate, his mother and Lewis, the complaint said.
Phone calls and e-mails between Lewis and prisoners described plans to bring drugs into the prison, as well as the shipment of a package containing K2 to Thompson, court documents stated.
Investigators said information on the labels that was on the shipments to Angelo and Thompson indicated Lewis had paid to deliver them with his credit card.
Angelo, Thompson and Lewis are charged with corrupt organizations, contraband, delivery of a controlled substance, obstruction, possession of drug paraphernalia, and other related charges, including numerous counts of conspiracy.
Angelo and Thompson each posted unsecured bonds of $50,000. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 8.
Lewis, who is incarcerated in Allegheny County on unrelated charges, was expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon, the attorney general’s office said.