A man pleaded no contest to a charge of complicity to a conspiracy to deliver meth inside the Guam Department of Corrections, right when his trial was to start. Attorney General Douglas Moylan, who has been intolerant to drug offenders, announced he will be seeking the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for Francisco Garrido, Jr.
Mr. Garrido changed his plea after the 12-person jury in his case was fully seated, and trial before the jury was about to start.
“It is an important case because it sends the strong message of deterrence that all those who try to smuggle drugs into the prison will be prosecuted by this AG to the fullest extent of the law,” Mr. Moylan said in a news release today. “This AG is intolerant of meth, and has made it know that protection of our law-abiding citizens & crime victims, as well as punishing criminals, is our top priority. Rehabilitation is not our job. By punishing persons like Mr. Garrido, it sends the strong deterrent message that we prosecute those mocking our laws and smuggling meth into our most secure government facilities. This AG will not tolerate meth users & distributors and will seek the harshest penalties available to deter others. Rehabilitation of inmates cannot occur when drugs are readily available in DOC. This meth smuggling case is one of several involving DOC, and continues our securing convictions against meth addicts and distributors infiltrating DOC.”
According to the original charges in the case, on September 19, 2020, Mr. Garrido’s co-defendant Davina Rae Aguon allegedly attempted to smuggle meth and syringes into the prison, allegedly with the help of then-corrections officer Mike Gumataotao.
Mr. Gumataotao also was arrested, and no longer works for the DOC, according to Major Antone Aguon.
The original charges state:
“Police investigated the matter further and listened to several phone calls made from an inmate and DAVINA RAE AGUON (Defendant Aguon). The phone calls appeared to arrange a meeting between Defendant Aguon and Corrections Officer Gumataotao at the Barrigada 76 gas station. Corrections Officer Gumataotao told police he did meet Defendant Aguon at the 76 gas station on September 16, 2020. Police interviewed Defendant Aguon who admitted that she met with a DOC officer. Defendant Aguon stated that she helped package the lotion bottle prior to giving it to the DOC officer.”
The drugs and other paraphernalia, including a cell phone, were contained inside the lotion bottle.
“Police further interviewed FRANCISCO P. GARRIDO (Defendant Garrido) in relation to the contraband after listening to DOC paytel phone conversations. Defendant Garrido admitted that an inmate asked him to put syringes and marijuana in a lotion bottle which he did. Defendant Garrido stated that he put the marijuana in the lotion bottle but someone else put the methamphetamines in the lotion bottle. Defendant Aguon told the police that Defendant Garrido was the one who packed the lotion bottle.” – magistrates report
This is the latest in a series of prosecutorial victories of the Office of the Attorney General of Guam involving drug offenses, sex crimes, and other violent crimes.
If sentenced to the full 30 years, Mr. Garrido may be in prison until he is 88 years old.
