Source: Office of United States Attorneys
FRESNO, Calif. — Garrett Scott Wheelen, 33, of Fresno, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dena M. Coggins to 12 years and 7 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
“Garrett Wheelen brazenly attempted to throw packages containing tobacco and methamphetamine into the prison yard of Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Federal prisons are tightly controlled, and the FBI works closely with its local, state, and federal partners to ensure anyone attempting to introduce contraband into a prison is held accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, Wheelen arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution Mendota wearing a facemask, baseball cap, and hoodie to conceal his identity. In broad daylight, Wheelen ran to the prison fence and tossed four packages into the prison’s recreation yard. He was quickly apprehended after attempting to flee. The packages contained more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine. Wheelen was on supervised release from a prior federal felony charge at the time.
Initially, Wheelen’s plan was to stuff the narcotics inside red squirrel pelts to avoid detection by prison staff. In text messages, he discussed purchasing the pelts and sewing up the narcotics inside. Wheelen, however, abandoned this plan and ultimately tossed the narcotics over the fence without any such effort to disguise their nature.
Wheelen was also sentenced to a term of 2 years in prison for his violation of supervised release terms, to run concurrently to his sentence for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mendota Police Department, and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Dhruv M. Sharma are prosecuting the case.