Former corrections officer arrested on drug trafficking charges
McGeary allegedly supplied inmate with contraband to distribute in prison
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From Mirror staff reports
A former corrections officer is behind bars on charges that he took part in an organized drug trafficking ring that supplied suboxone to E-Block inmates at the Blair County Prison.
Caleb John McGeary, 33, was arraigned Tuesday night before Magisterial District Judge Fred B. Miller on felony charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, conspiracy – dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, corrupt organizations, conspiracy – corrupt organizations, contraband, conspiracy – contraband, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility.
Unable to post $100,000 bail, he was remanded to the Cambria County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 18 before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.
Police allege that from February to March 16, inmate Brendan Poggi, his girlfriend Jennifer Grimm and McGeary worked together to deliver drugs to inmates at the prison using code words and Cash App accounts.
The monthslong investigation began when a member of the Blair County Drug Task Force became aware of Cash App transactions while listening to recorded calls and messages from the prison via CIDNET.
The first call, on Feb. 15, includes an inmate instructing a woman what to do with money she was to be receiving. The inmate didn't elaborate on why the transaction was taking place, but the woman said she was concerned about the activity being illegal.
As more information was gathered, police began to listen to CIDNET calls and messages made by Poggi. In a call on March 1, Poggi asks Grimm to check for Cash App transactions that end in 10, 8 and 25, numbers he used to identify who has paid.
Police then went back and listened to older calls, including one on Feb. 23 in which Poggi asks Grimm to send $50 to a Cash App and says the account belongs to "Caleb." A later search warrant revealed the Cash App account mentioned in the call belonged to McGeary, court documents state.
Similar calls were recorded on the CIDNET system, police stated, noting that Grimm bragged about having $2,000 on her Cash App and $8,500 in $20-dollar bills. She also tells Poggi she is better at hustling than him, with police noting in the report that hustling is slang for drug trafficking.
In a call on March 2, Poggi said he was waiting on a bus to take him to Camp HIll to start his state prison sentence and he wants to receive another shipment of drugs before he leaves.
Court documents show that calls between Poggi and Grimm were made on March 5 with the reference to getting "groceries" to describe the drugs. Poggi asked Grimm what $650 in groceries included with Grimm stating that she did not count how many "toaster strudels" she got. Poggie asks if it was at least 21 like a week ago and she said it is way more, documents state.
While on the phone, Grimm states "I can't find my drugs" and Poggi says she should go visit the "babysitter." Poggi also asked about crayons, which police believe to be a code for drugs. Later that night, Grimm states that she messaged "him," meaning the "babysitter," and Poggi asks if she is at the real house or the other house, which police noted indicates a stash house.
Additional calls include Grimm talking about using heroin while talking to Poggi, about taking "arts and crafts" to the "babysitter" and Grimm getting a rental car for a male they call "Solo."
In a call between Poggi and another man, Poggi brags that the Blair prison is good because they have a "babysitter on the payroll and everything."
Additional information about drug trafficking in the prison came from two inmates who spoke with police about McGeary making deals with inmates and bringing in contraband, the report states.
A sealed search warrant was served on both Grimm's and McGeary's Cash App accounts on March 31. The results were received on April 26 and showed that Grimm's account totaled $15,000.
The data also showed Grimm made payments to McGeary and that Grimm received Cash App transactions from a number of inmates.
Police took Grimm into custody on May 24. During an interview with police, she said the "babysitter" was McGeary and that the operation, originally set up between Poggi and McGeary, began in February.
In the first transaction, made on the 1300 block of North Fourth Avenue, she paid McGeary $500 in person and gave him about 20 suboxone strips, Grimm told police.
She provided McGeary with suboxone strips about four or five times and on a few occasions, suboxone pills as well, the report states.
Near the end of the operation, Grimm said McGeary was demanding more money to make the drops to Poggi.
Police said the operation ended when Poggi was sent to state prison.
Charges against Grimm, Poggi and McGeary were filed on Oct. 3.
For their part in the alleged drug trafficking ring, Grimm and Poggi face felony charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, corrupt organizations, contraband, prohibited acts and criminal use of a communication facility.
Court documents note that as of July, McGeary is no longer employed at the prison.