Home Six women, including a former corrections officer, arrested in $1.1 million drug scheme
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Six women, including a former corrections officer, arrested in $1.1 million drug scheme

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Six women, including a former corrections officer, are facing charges in an alleged $1.1 million drug smuggling scheme in Goochland County.

A former Department of Corrections sergeant, a current inmate, three active probationers and one additional person have been arrested after a months-long investigation into drug contraband at Virginia Correctional Center for Women.

A total of 13 charges have been filed after indictments by a grand jury in Goochland County Circuit Court.

Those arrested include:

  • April Parrott of Gordonsville: Former VADOC corrections sergeant facing five counts total, conspiracy to deliver narcotics to prisoner, attempt to deliver narcotics to prisoner, two counts of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance and delivery of narcotics to prisoner
  • Stephanie Nicole Vanhoudt of Troy: Current inmate, possession of a Schedule III drug by a prisoner
  • Orline “Arlene” Terry of Glen Allen: Conspiracy to deliver narcotics to prisoner
  • Tara Hedges Catona of Glen Allen: Current probationer, conspiracy to deliver narcotics to prisoner
  • Brittany Louise Decarli of Portsmouth: Current probationer, two counts of attempt to deliver narcotics to prisoner
  • Michelle Paige Rook of Glen Allen: Current probationer, possess, sell or secrete Schedule III drug by a prisoner, conspiracy to deliver narcotics to prisoner and possession of a Schedule III drug by a prisoner

A probationer is an individual who has been convicted of a crime but is released into the community under supervision instead of immediate incarceration, or has their suspended sentence served under court-ordered conditions.

The VADOC Office of Law Enforcement Services, or OLES, is investigating the case. The Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and Goochland County Sheriff’s Office also supported the investigation. 

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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

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