Merced County contract worker arrested for drug smuggling, officials say | YourCentralValley.com

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A Merced County contract employee, an incarcerated person and the incarcerated person’s wife were arrested during a six-month investigation, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said.

On July 3, the Supervised Release Team (SRT) completed a six-month investigation into drugs and illegal items being smuggled into the John Latorraca Correctional Center (JLCC), officials said.

During the investigation, sheriff’s officials said Elizabeth Carpenter, Ciara Marlene Huerta and an inmate, Anthony Ray Huerta, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, smuggling and drug possession at the jail.

According to the sheriff’s office, Carpenter was a contract employee for Merced County and Ciara Marlene Huerta is the inmate’s wife.

This is an ongoing investigation.