Feds investigating alleged smuggling of drugs, cell phones at Waupun Correctional

MADISON – The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into an alleged conspiracy within Waupun Correctional Institution to bring in cell phones, illegal drugs and other contraband — a probe that has resulted in the suspension of nearly a dozen prison employees.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and state Department of Corrections officials in June asked federal authorities to conduct an investigation into potential criminal activities inside the Waupun prison after a DOC sweep of multiple housing units uncovered prohibited items, according to Evers' spokeswoman Britt Cudaback.

Cudaback said the initial DOC probe "revealed allegations of potential employee involvement in those illegal activities, including information suggesting financial crimes may have occurred."

It's unclear if the allegations involve smuggling by staff or another role employees could have played in the alleged scheme.

That prompted Evers administration officials within days to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to partner with federal law enforcement to investigate the claims "and bring immediate accountability for any individuals participating in circumventing state and federal laws," Cudaback said.

"Our administration has been cooperating with federal law enforcement authorities during their investigation," Cudaback said.

The investigation is under way as DOC's top administrator is set to leave his post. Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr announced last week he would be retiring from the Evers administration at the end of this week. Evers told reporters this week that he did not ask Carr to resign. His successor has yet to be named.

Eleven Waupun employees were placed on administrative leave by DOC officials between May 2023 and March 2024, some with pay and some without, according to the department.

It’s unclear which positions the employees on administrative leave held at the prison and whether criminal charges are being considered.

When asked whether federal officials had contacted the State Department of Justice regarding the state's prisons, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Josh Kaul declined to comment.

The investigation comes at a time when state corrections officials face litigation and questions from families of Waupun inmates over conditions in the prison and over the deaths of four inmates in custody of Waupun prison officials.

The family of 60-year-old Dean Hoffmann, who died by suicide at Waupun Correctional Institution last June, sued the DOC over his death, alleging prison officials were deliberately indifferent to Hoffmann's serious mental health needs, which resulted in his suicide.

The DOC is also facing a class action lawsuit, claiming “cruel and unusual” conditions at the prison.

At least one prisoner, 30-year-old Tyshun Lemons, died because of an overdose of illegal drugs during the facility's monthslong lockdown that began in March of last year. He is one of four people who have died at the prison in the last eight months.

Since Waupun and other state facilities were put on lockdown last year, incarcerated people and their advocates have been protesting the prisons' conditions and lack of access to medical care at the facilities. Officials began to loosen the lockdown restrictions last November.

Molly Beck and Vanessa Swales can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com and vswales@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Feds investigating alleged drug, cell phone smuggling at Waupun prison