FEDERAL INMATE SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING DRUGS IN PRISON

TEXARKANA, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 26-year-old federal prisoner has been sentenced for a violation involving illegal drugs in the Eastern District of Texas. 

MARCUS DESHAWN HUNTER, an inmate in the Texarkana Federal Correctional Institution, pleaded guilty on January 23, 2008 to possession of contraband in prison and was sentenced today to an additional 6 months in federal prison by United States District Judge David Folsom.  The sentence is to run consecutive to Hunter's current 120 month sentence.

            According to information presented in court, Hunter received a bag of potato chips from a visitor in which marijuana filled balloons had been hidden.  Hunter proceeded to eat the chips and swallow the balloons, which were recovered by FCI officials.

            This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise O. Simpson.