A Fresno man has been dealt a heavy dose of justice after a failed smuggling attempt at a federal prison. Garrett Scott Wheelen, 33, was sentenced to a 12-year stretch behind bars for trying to introduce a significant amount of methamphetamine into the Federal Correctional Institution in Mendota, an act the authorities are not taking lightly, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office published last Friday.
This brazen act unfolded in broad daylight on May 1, 2024, when Wheelen, donning a facemask, baseball cap, and hoodie in a bid to disguise his identity, hurled four packages over the prison fence right into the recreation yard; his attempt at discretion, however, was all for naught as he was promptly caught by authorities after his escape bid failed, the packages themselves turned out to house over three pounds of meth. The Federal Bureau of Investigation does not mince its words when describing the severity of these offenses, “Federal prisons are tightly controlled, and the FBI works closely with its local, state, and federal partners to ensure anyone attempting to introduce contraband into a prison is held accountable for their actions,” FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel revealed, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Adding to Wheelen's woes was the fact he was not exactly a stranger to the criminal justice system—being on supervised release from an earlier federal felony charge when he decided to further his foray into crime—it is the kind of irony that writes itself, but it spells more trouble for an individual who's no stranger to the inside of a cell. U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins saw fit to hand down a sentence of 12 years and seven months to Wheelen, ensuring he'll have ample time to contemplate on the consequences of his actions, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
