An eleven-year veteran correctional officer at Lewis Prison was terminated and taken into custody for his role in the distribution of narcotics within the prison system, as confirmed by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR). The officer, Berman Comon, was directly implicated in a scheme that involved smuggling drugs including fentanyl and heroin for inmate consumption.
According to information provided by FOX 10 Phoenix, Comon, who worked in a counseling capacity at the institution – officially titled Correctional Officer III – had greater access to inmates compared to standard officers, which he utilized to carry out these illegal activities. ADCRR found evidence, notably video footage, showing him distributing contraband. A five-month investigation eventually led to Comon's early January firing and subsequent arrest. The operation to slowly uncover and ultimately put a stop to this criminal activity reportedly did not include any other ADCRR staff members.
On the side of the operation involving the outside world, court documents uncovered by ABC15 note that Joy Cuevas, spouse to one of the implicated inmates, is accused of acting as the intermediary supplier, a role that extended to her potentially trafficking drugs from outside into Lewis Prison. The sting on her residence yielded not only prison-style cell phones, but also a substantial quantity of heroin and drug packaging materials.
“The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) takes immense pride in the dedication and professionalism our officers demonstrate daily in maintaining the safety of the community, staff, and inmates. Upholding the highest standards of integrity is at the core of our mission, and we take swift and decisive action when those standards are not met," ADCRR remarked in a statement obtained by ABC15.
Comon is now faced with severe felony charges, which include attempting to stubbornly maintain a continuous flow of narcotics into a secured facility, money laundering, conspiracy, and possession as well as transportation of narcotic drugs. ADCRR’s investigations reveal Comon's drug-smuggling methods, highlighting his use of styrofoam cups and an ice machine to eclipse the prison's body scanner during contraband entry.
As part of the wider-reaching consequences for this breach of trust and legality, three inmates are also alleged in packaging the illicit substances inside Comon's office, thereby setting the distribution network in motion within the prison walls. The ADCRR and the Maricopa County Drug Suppression Task Force, in a joint clamp-down effort, are working to restore order and assure the public of their commitment to integrity and transparency in the penal system.
