A former prison guard at Goose Creek Correctional Center smuggled drugs into the prison over about a three-month period and was paid $1,400, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court.
The agreement says Adam Jason Spindler will accept two charges: drug conspiracy and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. The 32-year-old is set to enter his plea Aug. 22.
Spindler was caught trying to smuggle marijuana and heroin into Goose Creek on May 23, according to charges in the case. The FBI, who had been tipped off about the smuggling, witnessed Spindler meet up with a drug courier in Wasilla before heading to work, the charges say.
Spindler got spooked by a K-9 unit parked in the prison's parking lot and handed off a bag of drugs to another correctional officer before heading into the complex, the charges say. He told the co-worker the bag contained nothing more than personal-use marijuana.
The co-worker reported the bag Spindler had given him — as well as his suspicion, on closer examination, that it also contained heroin.
[Read more: Feds: Goose Creek correctional officer tried to smuggle drugs to inmates]
The incident resulted in federal charges against Spindler. The plea agreement asserts he agreed on multiple occasions to smuggle drugs into Goose Creek for different inmates housed in the section of the prison where he worked.
"More specifically, the defendant met with several inmates' respective drug associates at locations outside of GCCC to obtain drugs, and then smuggled those drugs into GCCC by secreting them in his personal effects when he reported for work," the plea agreement says.
Federal prosecutors say Spindler was paid about $1,400 for coordinating the smuggling.
When asked if authorities investigated other alleged incidents involving Spindler taking drugs into the prison, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Hattan said she could not comment beyond what was in the public record. She said no one else has been charged in connection with Spindler's case.
Corey Allen-Young, a state Department of Corrections spokesperson, previously told Alaska Dispatch News the case against Spindler was the result of a tip to the department's two-month-old Professional Conduct Unit.
The three-person unit is charged with investigating a variety of issues ranging from ethical concerns to staff complaints within DOC, but focuses on potential criminal matters.
Allen-Young said Corrections could not comment on the specifics of the Spindler case but said the conduct unit was working hard to understand the incident and vulnerabilities within DOC.
"As part of the process, we are looking at potential risks and policies and will actively look to address them. The goal is to prevent these things from happening again," he said.
The conduct unit has received tips on a regular basis that are prioritized and worked when possible, Allen-Young said. Those tips are ongoing investigations and have not led to criminal charges, he said.