(FBI Boston Twitter)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Massachusetts attorney, two detainees and a Connecticut woman have been charged in an alleged scheme to smuggle contraband into the Wyatt Detention Facility, according to U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Attorney Theresa M. DiJoseph, 50, of Woburn, MA, is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, providing a prohibited object to an inmate and making a false statement.
Hanasa Stedford, 21, of Hamden, CT and Wyatt detainees Shawn D. Hart, 46, and Samuel Douglas, 26, have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and providing a prohibited object to an inmate.
DiJoseph and Stedford were arrested Tuesday and will make a court appearance Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence.
Hart, who is detained at Wyatt awaiting trial on drug and firearm charges, and Douglas who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to racketeering charges, will make court appearances at a later date.
During a visit to Wyatt on July 9, 2023, DiJoseph used her credentials as an attorney to meet with Hart in a visiting room.
Correctional officers filed an incident report stating that DiJoseph was acting suspicious and monitoring the officer’s movements.
Wyatt reviewed text messages between DiJoseph and Hart sent on a Wyatt-issued tablet allegedly showing screenshots of Cash App or sports betting transactions she made on Hart’s behalf.
DiJoseph was temporarily barred from contact visits with Hart.
On December 1, 2023, correctional officers seized 10 sheets of paper from DiJoseph that appeared discolored, thicker than normal, and apparently wet and dried.
This is consistent with papers soaked in synthetic marijuana, and the papers were tested by an FBI lab that confirmed the presence of Schedule 1 controlled substances.
Douglas allegedly arranged for his girlfriend, Stedford, to meet with DiJoseph and provide her with the papers.