Mass. Jail Officer Convicted Of Drug Smuggling

A Massachusetts corrections officer has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle heroin to sell to inmates at a medium-security prison near Boston.

Ronald McGinn Jr. of Bridgewater pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to possession of heroin with intent to distribute at MCI-Norfolk.

Federal prosecutors say the 40-year-old sent text messages and discussed with an undercover FBI agent the amounts he would smuggle into the prison and fees he would charge to do so. He was arrested in April afternoon in possession of about 29 grams of heroin.

The investigation began after a Massachusetts Department of Corrections officer told the FBI that someone was smuggling contraband to the facility about 25 miles southwest of Boston.

McGinn faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing set for Sept. 27.