Former California correctional officer gets 3-year sentence in cell phone smuggling operation

A former Southern California prison guard has been sentenced in federal court to more than three years in prison for smuggling drugs and cellphones into prison.

Anibal Navarro, 43, of Chula Vista will serve 37 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to smuggling methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and cellphones into the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where he worked.

Navarro admitted in court that he was part of a network of 12 people, both inside and outside the prison, that smuggled contraband inside the prison, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California.

Navarro was recruited by an inmate named Martin Gomez, who directed Navarro to provide the contraband to various inmates, who in turn provided the contraband to other inmates, according to the Justice Department.

“Gomez approached Navarro while Gomez was an inmate at Donovan, offering him an avenue to make extra money that Gomez knew Navarro needed. Navarro was paid between $1,000 and $2,000 each time he smuggled contraband into the prison,” according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Gomez led the conspiracy for two years, ever after he was transferred to another prison, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

“Over 500 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, cell phones, and other contraband were smuggled into Donovan through Navarro at Gomez’s direction while he was incarcerated elsewhere,” according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. “The smuggled phones were used to coordinate criminal activity both inside and outside Donovan.”

Investigating agencies included the FBI, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Internal Affairs and Investigative Services Unit, and the U.S. Postal Service.

“Anibal Navarro abused his position and betrayed his oath as a corrections officer to further a conspiracy which included smuggling dangerous drugs and cell phones into our state prison system, allowing inmates to continue their criminal enterprise even while incarcerated,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner in a statement. “Today’s sentence hopefully sends a message to any government employee considering using their position of authority to further their own interests and enrich themselves — the FBI will continue to work diligently to root out public corruption at all levels.”

The FBI maintains a hotline where members of the public can report suspected corruption. The number is 855-466-7243.

This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 11:26 AM.