FRESNO -  Jermen Rudd III, 39, of Wentzville, Missouri, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to six years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and introducing a controlled substance into prison as a result of an investigation into the death of a Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, between July 15, 2024, and Aug. 9, 2024, Rudd conspired with Jamar Jones, 37, an inmate at USP Atwater, and Stephanie Ferreira, 37, of Evansville, Indiana, to introduce narcotics into USP Atwater for Jones to sell. As part of that scheme, Jones and Ferreira had Rudd mail a letter laced with narcotics to Jones that was fraudulently labeled as legal mail.

On Aug. 9, 2024, two correctional officers at USP Atwater opened the letter and minutes later began to feel ill. After evaluation by medical staff, the Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he passed away. The other staff member, a Correctional Systems Officer, recovered. Rudd pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2026.

The narcotics in the letter consisted of two varieties of synthetic cannabinoids sold under the street name “Spice.” Synthetic cannabinoids are lab-created chemicals that can be distributed in liquid form and are designed to produce a psychoactive effect.

Jones and Ferreira remain in custody pending trial set for Sept. 15, 2026. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.