Corrupt packaging employee admits to smuggling items to Aryan Brotherhood members in prison

He faces 10-year minimum sentence

A former employee for a packaging company that sent commissary to California prisoners has admitted to secretly outfitting a package with heroin, methamphetamine, saw blades, and other contraband, knowing full well it was going to members of the Aryan Brotherhood.

Justin “Rune” Petty, 40, pleaded guilty Monday morning to a racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. In exchange, prosecutors formally agreed that he played a “minor role” in a larger conspiracy to smuggle contraband into multiple prisons. Petty faces a minimum prison term of 10 years, records show.

In 2016, Petty worked for a packaging company called Golden State, which shipped commissary orders to California prisoners, when he agreed to ship contraband to California State Prison Sacramento, according to the plea agreement. He was in contact with Aryan Brotherhood members at that prison and High Desert State Prison who used contraband cell phones, the agreement says.

The agreement, signed by Petty, says that in August 2016 he smuggled cell phones, batteries, lighters, mini hacksaw blades, drill bits, ear pieces, heroin, and methamphetamine, into boxes meant to contain fudge brownies, Oatmeal Creme Pie treats, and Honey Buns. It says he distracted his box to outfit the package with the contraband and confirmed with an Aryan Brotherhood member the package was en route.

After the packages were intercepted by authorities, Petty and a co-conspirator speculated that their conversations may have been wiretapped. Turns out they were right.

In 2019, two dozen Aryan Brotherhood members and associates were indicted on a range of charges related to a wiretap investigation of contraband prison cell phones and heroin dealers operating on the outside. Nearly everyone has pleaded guilty, except for those charged the most serious

offenses. At a recent status conference, a trial for three alleged Aryan Brotherhood members was moved from March 2023 to February 2024, while three others are attempting to have their trials happen this year.

Petty's sentencing date has not yet been set.

CONTRIBUTED Ten cell phones, 140 grams of heroin and 39 grams of methamphetamine were recovered inside boxes of Oatmeal Creme Pies and fudge brownies in a plot to smuggle contraband into California State Prison Sacramento in September 2016.