Blackwater CI Counselor Arrested For Smuggling Contraband Cellphone In Her Underwear

February 20, 2018

A substance abuse counselor at the Blackwater Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa County has been charged with smuggling contraband into the facility by the Office of Inspector General of the Florida Department of Corrections.

An arrest affidavit states 29-year old Patrice LaFaye Ealy had a cellular phone wrapped in black electrical tape and six bundles of loose tobacco in her bra and underwear as she was entering the prison for work last Friday. The facility was conducting “an enhanced search operation of all employees entering the facility”.

Ealy was released from the Santa Rosa County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Weekend visitations were canceled at Blackweater CI, the Century Work Camp and four other facilities in the state due to contraband discoveries.

Ashley Cook, press secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections, said the contraband discovery at the Century Work Camp is under investigation by the Florida Department of Corrections Inspector General’s Office. There have been no arrests reported at the Century Work Camp.

Comments

16 Responses to “Blackwater CI Counselor Arrested For Smuggling Contraband Cellphone In Her Underwear”

  1. Well on February 21st, 2018 9:26 pm

    It’s a shame we have so many people in prison.
    Need thinning out.
    I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to staff bringing things in, makes it worse for the other employees.

  2. Barkee Dewan Muller on February 21st, 2018 7:24 am

    I was an inmate at the prison where this happened. She was my drug counselor seeing this after my recent release I’m not surprised at all

  3. MSW2019 on February 20th, 2018 9:01 pm

    Molinoman:

    Let me just say to you that I take offense to your comment. Social workers are human just as you are and have some of the same issues as other people. Just because we are social workers it does not make us problem free. I would also be interested in knowing where you got your statistics on MOST social workers being recovering addicts themselves and slipping back into old habits while helping others. Also we are not in the business of “taking” children for no reason because I can assure you that the State of Alabama does not want other people’s children when there are very limited resources and foster parents. I would like to challenge you to read up on things before you start putting ALL social workers into the same class because I for one have never been a recovering or present user of anything illegal and I worked very hard for my degree to put it in jeopardy for any reason. I take great pride in my career choice and develop positive relationships with the families that I work with because I for one care about them and want to see them do better. We don’t go out trolling neighborhoods looking for families to get involved with. Something has to happen for us to know about it.

  4. Chip on February 20th, 2018 6:30 pm

    I pray for here Life is hard God bless her and her family, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!

  5. Drew on February 20th, 2018 6:26 pm

    This young lady defiantly suffered from extreme low self exsteem issues. And the inmate most likely turned her up for some small request! Not worth it.

  6. Bob C. on February 20th, 2018 5:50 pm

    Guess she only gets one free call now.
    Totally question what was going on for her?
    Could she or her family been threatened by one of the inmates?
    Need more information.

  7. Bob on February 20th, 2018 5:03 pm

    A simple flip phone will go for $500 and a smartphone up to $1500. Gangs use these phones to communicate with each other, arrange hits, do deals ect. One of the most dangerous contraband that can make it into the prison system is a phone

  8. molinoman on February 20th, 2018 4:57 pm

    Just confirms my thoughts that counselors and social workers are just as messed up as those they claim to be helping. Most are “recovered” junkies with aspirations of helping others but usually tend to slip back into old habits, keep it hidden while lecturing others, taking their kids etc for a paycheck.

  9. retired on February 20th, 2018 4:09 pm

    The bigger problem! After she is convicted and can not get a JOB we will support her (welfare)

  10. Lisa Lambeth on February 20th, 2018 1:54 pm

    I think she should be held to a higher standard and seriously punished. Those men are supposed to have staff that are rehabilitating them not enabling. Goodness! Fire her and never let her work in substance abuse or a prison again. Ridiculous!

  11. Robinhood on February 20th, 2018 11:13 am

    Wonder what was in it for her to do such a stupid thing like losing her JOB and now will be a convicted Felon. Probably been doing this for a period of time now and thought she would never get caught. Criminals will manipulate you when you will not even realize it until it is too late. CRAZY !!!! Wonder if the drug Counselor was getting drugs for her deliveries.

  12. tg on February 20th, 2018 10:09 am

    She just didn’t like her job.

  13. anne 1of2 on February 20th, 2018 9:33 am

    Help us out. What is the value of those items? Too bad the woman threw her job away.

  14. Nana of 16 on February 20th, 2018 8:21 am

    GREAT JOB, keep up the good work! Shame on you young lady, do you feel as if it were worth it now. You have lost a job with great benefits and now possibly a record at 29, what a shame.

  15. chris on February 20th, 2018 7:40 am

    Smile for the camera!

  16. Whisperjet on February 20th, 2018 7:01 am

    …and you have always wondered why we have so many problems in our jails and prisons..great job to security for catching this “substance abuse councelor”…I know you have a big job to do…