Four inmates of the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana entered not guilty pleas to possessing contraband in prison at a hearing before a federal judge in Texarkana last week.
Three of the men are accused of possessing forms of synthetic marijuana and the fourth is accused of possessing a cell phone, according to indictments handed down by a federal grand jury in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas last month. The defendants were each appointed lawyers by U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven last week at their arraignments, according to federal court records.
Craven appointed Texarkana attorney David Crisp to represent Salvador Tamayo, 26. Tamayo allegedly was in possession of a cell phone in the prison April 6. Texarkana attorney Craig Henry was appointed to represent George Howard, 39, against allegations that he possessed FUB-AMB, a form of synthetic marijuana, in the prison Jan. 11.
Texarkana attorney Jeff Harrelson was appointed to represent Ervin Boyce, 39, who is accused of possessing synthetic marijuana Jan. 8. Texarkana attorney Matthew Golden was appointed to represent Andy Schuman, 35, against allegations that he possessed two types of synthetic marijuana, FUB-AMB and ADB-Chiminaca, while in the prison Dec. 18.
Any prison time the defendants receive for possessing contraband must be served consecutively to the terms that brought the men to Texarkana FCI in the first place. Tamayo faces up to one additional year in prison and a fine up to $100,000 for allegedly possessing a cell phone. Howard, Boyce and Schuman face up to 10 extra years and a fine up to $250,000 for allegedly possessing synthetic marijuana.
Craven scheduled all of the men for jury selection July 24 before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III.
