Man Arrested for Prison Contraband Attempt with Family Onboard

In a dramatic turn of events in St. Croix, Jahmar Frederick, a man with a notable criminal history, has been apprehended following an audacious attempt to deliver contraband to the John A. Bell Correctional Facility, all while having his sister and her young children in the car.

It began on a regular Saturday afternoon when a vigilant correctional officer noticed an individual sprinting towards the prison’s visiting area fence. This individual was observed as he endeavored to sneak a sizable black garbage bag through the prison’s inner barrier. On hearing the officer’s command to cease, the suspect fled to a maroon Honda Crosstour parked on prison premises and sped off.

The fast-thinking officer, cognizant of the gravity of the situation, promptly alerted the prison’s Central Control to impede the maroon car from departing the front gate. Additionally, a law enforcement official from the Gang Intelligence Search Team, positioned within the prison, caught wind of this communication and sprang into action, rushing to assist and reinforce the guard booth’s orders.

When the police attempted to block the Honda’s path, a tense chase ensued. In a dramatic standoff, as multiple Bureau of Corrections vehicles joined the pursuit, Frederick’s vehicle, in a bold move, headed straight for one of them. Quick reflexes on the part of the officers allowed them to counteract, attempting to use their vehicle to stop the Honda.

In the wake of the high-octane chase, the maroon Honda eventually came to a standstill, boxed in by officers. But the shocks didn’t end there. Inside, the officers discovered not just Frederick, but also his sister and her children, aged five and six. Astonishingly, only the sister and the children had been logged in during their initial arrival at the prison.

Contained within the Honda was the suspicious garbage bag, packed with an assortment of items: 12 cartons of cigarettes, beverages filled with alcohol, Hennessy bottles, mobile phones, tech accessories, tobacco, over 40 ounces of a substance confirmed as marijuana, and various other contraband.

Facing a slew of charges ranging from child abuse and reckless endangerment to the introduction of narcotics into prison, Frederick had his preliminary court hearing on Monday.

However, this isn’t the first time Frederick has been entangled with the law. His rap sheet, starting from 2013, includes a dismissed firearms possession charge from 2018, 32 allegations related to forgery and identity theft, and a 2020 arrest for forging business checks. As of his most recent charge, records indicate he was on probation. Details from Monday’s hearing, presided over by Magistrate Ernest Morris Jr., remained unobtainable as of the last update.

This incident serves as a grave reminder of the risks associated with contraband in correctional facilities and the lengths some individuals go to. The involvement of family members, especially young children, amplifies concerns regarding such illegal activities and their far-reaching implications.