Be he STILL will have mail priviledges.
Ohio Gov. Mail Room Investigated
Posted by FoM on May 25, 2000 at 13:01:32 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Las Vegas SUN
The State Highway Patrol is investigating a possible drug-smuggling ring run out of Gov. Bob Taft's office mail room by four minimum security prisoners on a work program.
The scheme apparently involved using the mail for marijuana deliveries, The Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday, quoting unidentified sources.
The highway patrol is in charge of the investigation because it is responsible for the governor's security and for investigating crimes within state government offices.
Lt. John Born, the patrol's spokesman, would not confirm the newspaper's report.
"An investigation is under way involving inmates at the governor's office, but we can't discuss specifics of it at this point," he said Thursday.
No charges have been filed, Born said.
Taft spokesman Scott Milburn did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the investigation Thursday.
The inmates from Orient Correctional Institution had been assigned to handle duties such as mail sorting and news clipping.
They returned to the facility after work every night.
Joe Andrews, spokesman for the state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, refused to discuss the specifics of the case.
But he said inmates who work in the governor's office are minimum security prisoners who have been sentenced for nonviolent crimes and have indicated they can be trusted to work outside prison under the supervision of state employees.
"We take into consideration their previous history and behavior while incarcerated," he said.
Andrews would not say how many inmates work in state government or in the governor's office.
Columbus, Ohio (AP)
Published: May 25, 2000
Copyright 2000 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.