News

Released: May 29, 2014 - Thursday, 03:44 PM

Bringing/Sending Controlled Substance into a Jail, Criminal Conspiracy

Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781 4547Date and time of incident: 5-16-14, approximately 9:05 AMPlace of Occurrence: ​Sheriff's Honor Farm, 880 Oklahoma Avenue, San Luis Obispo​ Victim Information: ​N/A​ Suspect Information: ​1. Thomas Richard Rodriguez, Jr., 26, Grover Beach 2. ​Linda Vanessa Johns, 25, ​Oceano​​ ​     On 5-16-14, an investigator with the Sheriff's Narcotics Unit served a search warrant at the Sheriff's Honor Farm. The search warrant authorized access to several pieces of mail that were addressed to an inmate at the County Jail.
     The search resulted in the discovery of Suboxone film strips hidden under the postage stamps of the letters sent to the inmate. Suboxone is used to treat opiate addiction but can also itself be abused. 
     Acting on a tip, the investigator discovered the letters were being sent from a woman in Oceano to the inmate at his request. The stamps on the letters appeared to have small bulges. Upon further investigation, Suboxone strips were discovered underneath the stamps.
     As a result, the inmate Thomas Richard Rodriguez, Jr., and the woman, Linda Vanessa Johns were arrested for bringing or sending a controlled substance into a jail and criminal conspiracy. ​​