5 arrested in Nassau jail contraband probe, officials say

Five people face felony charges after what authorities Wednesday said was a long-term joint investigation into drug smuggling at Nassau County's jail that led to the seizure of heroin, Suboxone, marijuana and K2.

Prosecutors said the probe disrupted schemes in which inmates cooperated with outsiders to try to get drugs inside the East Meadow correctional facility, either through an in-person visit with an inmate or by mailing the contraband.

The discovery of an alleged smuggling plot in November triggered the ongoing probe involving prosecutors, jail officials, police and postal inspectors that authorities dubbed “Operation United Front."

Rick Whelan, Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau chief for the Nassau district attorney's office, said Wednesday authorities expect several more arrests.

"The operation is still in full swing," he added.

Law enforcement officials intercepted all the drugs before they reached inmates, according to Assistant District Attorney George Smit, one of the case prosecutors.

In two instances, a drug-sniffing dog helped correction officers discover jail visitors who were trying to sneak in balloons with drugs in them, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said in three instances, correction officers found either heroin or Suboxone inside envelopes one of the suspects, Natasha Hyslop, 40, of Hempstead, allegedly mailed to her boyfriend, jail inmate Julius Eatman, 52.

Hyslop faces three counts of promoting prison contraband and a count of criminally possessing a controlled substance — all felonies. Records show she had a July arraignment and is now out on bail. Prosecutors said Eatman, who remains jailed, faces three felony counts of promoting prison contraband following his July arraignment in this case. 

Authorities alleged Eatman told Hyslop how to get, package and mail heroin to him at the jail. In February, jail officials found heroin inside one envelope she sent him, and two envelopes she mailed him had Suboxone strips along the adhesive seals, according to prosecutors.

Whelan said authorities also seized about $6,000 from the jail commissary accounts of Eatman and another inmate and that Eatman's girlfriend deposited the money — proceeds from her "essentially running his drug business on the outside."

Officials said other jail contraband seizures happened last fall.

Prosecutors said Valerie Ritchwood, 38, of Roosevelt, tried in November as a visitor to bring two balloons into the jail that along with match heads and striker strips contained Suboxone strips, marijuana and synthetic marijuana — also known as K2.

Ritchwood faces two charges of promoting prison contraband, one a felony and one a misdemeanor, and prosecutors said there is a warrant for her arrest because she missed a court appearance after her  arraignment last year.

George Michel, Ritchwood's Mineola attorney, said she maintains her innocence. He added that Ritchwood has medical issues "requiring frequent hospitalization," and he hopes "to have her return to court as soon as possible."

Prosecutors said authorities also broke up another smuggling effort at the jail in November that involved an attempt to bring three balloons of Suboxone, marijuana and matches into the facility. Dominique Horne, 33, of Hempstead, and Christopher Wright, 32, then an inmate, conspired to try to sneak in that contraband, according to authorities.

Horne faces a felony promoting prison contraband charge, and records show a judge conditionally released her to probation officials after her July arraignment.

Authorities charged Wright with a felony promoting prison contraband offense and a misdemeanor criminal contempt charge. Records show he made bond after his arraignment last week.

Wright's Mineola attorney, Patrick Spike Kauffman, said Wright pleaded not guilty and he has "not been shown any evidence that directly connects to my client."

Attorneys for the other defendants couldn't be reached Wednesday. Prosecutors said all of the accused entered not guilty pleas.

Nassau correction officers' union leader Brian Sullivan said his members "did all the initial grunt work that started this investigation," and wanted the defendants "to see jail time" if convicted.