HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, announced charges against three people — two corrections officers and a former inmate — regarding drug trafficking at SCI Fayette.
The Office of Attorney General, following a recommendation from the 54th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, filed charges this week against Beau Angelo, 37, and Charity Thompson, 40 — the officers — and Vadol Lewis, 33.
Each is charged with felony counts of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, contraband, and delivery of a controlled substance, and related offenses, regarding trafficking that was discovered in late 2024.
Angelo and Thompson turned themselves in Monday morning and were arraigned, when bail was set at $50,000 unsecured apiece.
Angelo and Thompson are no longer employed as corrections officers.
Lewis is incarcerated in Allegheny County on unrelated charges and is expected to be arraigned Monday.
“This case involves a betrayal of sworn oaths to protect the public, and conduct that threatens the public’s confidence in all officers with duties to keep their communities safe,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I commend the work of the investigative agencies who acted professionally and diligently to uncover this criminal organization, and thank the grand jurors for committing their precious time to hear testimony that led to the filing of serious charges.”
According to the investigation and grand jury testimony, Angelo and Thompson provided K2 and Suboxone to inmates in exchange for payment — often via electronic apps, such as CashApp. Lewis, a former inmate at SCI Fayette, sent the drugs (after his release) to the officers for distribution at the prison.
Angelo and Thompson brought the drugs into the prison on their persons, then distributed them to inmates.
Investigators served a series of search warrants at the defendants’ homes. Drugs were also seized from a prison cell.
Major Serell C. Ulrich, Director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said:
“These defendants violated their oaths as law enforcement officers by smuggling illegal drugs into a correctional facility in exchange for cash payment. The introduction of narcotics into a correctional facility endangers the safety of staff and inmates alike and undermines the integrity of the entire corrections system. The PSP commends the approximate 18 months of collaborative investigative work by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Drug Law Enforcement Division, and the Department of Corrections, Bureau of Investigative Intelligence for this investigation, and recognizes the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Corrections for their continued partnership in keeping our communities safe from dangerous drugs.”
The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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