The correctional officer is said to have smuggled drugs into Shirley Prison

A correctional officer accused of smuggling drugs into a medium-security prison in Shirley, Massachusetts, resigned last week, the Department of Corrections announced Sunday.

Roxsandra Wright is charged with delivering an article to a prisoner. She allegedly brought paper laced with synthetic cannabinoid to MCI-Shirley.

“The Massachusetts Department of Correction requires the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all employees,” DOC Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said in a statement. “Any behavior that threatens the security of our facilities or undermines public trust will not be tolerated.”

Wright was arrested Saturday as part of an ongoing investigation by the DOC and Massachusetts State Police into drugs illegally entering prisons. Her resignation was effective Oct. 31, the department said.

According to court documents, Wright was seen on live video surveillance last week chatting with Chon Son, an inmate, during a recovery period. Son turned to an inmate-only personnel office and appeared to return two handballs to Wright.

“The son is observed to make a gesture toward Office Wright and quickly remove an unknown package and place it in the left pocket of his jacket,” the criminal complaint states. “Son appeared to have another brief conversation with Wright and Wright was seen walking around the desk in the office with a small roll of clear trash bags.”

According to court documents, the son left the gym and was seen putting the package from his pocket into the back of his pants. He was arrested and searched, and the package was found inside a blue latex glove in a small plastic trash bag, “consistent with the role” of Wright, the complaint says.

The package contained 45 strips of paper, equivalent to about 15 full pages of paper, court documents said. According to prosecutors, the strips appeared wet and tested positive for a known synthetic cannabinoid.

“The black market monetary value of the synthetic cannabinoid lacing paper at Shirley Prison is approximately $528,000,” court documents state.

According to court documents, Wright submitted her resignation on September 30 to move to New Jersey with her sister and work for the state Department of Corrections.

When Wright learned Son had been arrested, she tried to go home sick, court documents said. She is expected to be arraigned in Ayer District Court on Monday.

---

Molly Farrar is a general reporter for Boston.com covering education, politics, crime and more.

---