Wyatt correctional officer admits to attempted smuggling of drugs into facility

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — Officials announced Tuesday that a Wyatt Detention Facility correctional officer admitted to attempting to smuggle drugs into prison.

The United States Attorney’s Office for Rhode Island said 26-year-old Kristopher White pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of attempting to provide contraband in prison.

White admitted to a federal judge that, while on duty in December 2021, he attempted to deliver papers soaked with synthetic cannabis oil to inmates.

Information presented to the court revealed that an inmate’s text messages revealed they were working with individuals outside the Wyatt to bring controlled substances into the facility, per officials.

White was approached by the inmate and agreed to participate and smuggle contraband into the facility and, on Dec. 2, 2021, was caught bringing the papers into the facility, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

White is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 15, 2024, and officials said his sentence will be determined by a district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.