Cheshire corrections officer brought drugs into prison, state police say – New Haven Register

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CHESHIRE — A Cheshire Correctional Institution officer turned himself in to police after he was charged with bringing contraband — marijuana and a cellphone — into the prison, according to state police records.
The corrections officer, 39-year-old Noe Agramonte, is charged with unauthorized conveyance of items into a correctional institution, according to an arrest report from state police.
State police were called to the facility in January 2021 to investigate an inmate who allegedly possessed narcotics. A state trooper said there was marijuana in an inmate’s cell along with a piece of paper saying, “Have your peoples go to a Cash App and send it to” a certain phone number, according to an application for Agramonte’s arrest warrant.
Police later discovered the phone number was associated with a Cash App account belonging to Agramonte, the warrant stated.
In an interview the next day, Agramonte denied using the Cash App account and didn’t recognize an inmate. Agramonte was placed on administrative leave. Meanwhile, officials also interviewed the inmate, who said Agramonte would drop marijuana at the bottom of a garbage can and have lengthy conversations with an inmate, the warrant stated.
The names of all inmates were redacted from Agramonte’s arrest warrant provided by state police.
The arrest warrant states an inmate had been suspected by corrections staff for bringing narcotics into the institution before an inmate was caught with marijuana.
Police also analyzed video footage showing Agramonte talking with an inmate, which contradicted his earlier statement of not recognizing the inmate. The footage also showed Agramonte “entering a caustic supplies closet” with an inmate “for a significant amount of time,” according to the arrest warrant.
Cheshire Correctional Institution staff suspected that the narcotics were stashed in that closet, the warrant states.
State police also analyzed various documents with Agramonte’s handwriting and records from Cash App, as well as interviewed several inmates who also alleged Agramonte brought in a cellphone. Records revealed that friends and family of inmates sent money to Agramonte for the marijauna andcell phone, the arrest warrant said.
In October, while an investigator interviewed Agramonte and his lawyer, Agramonte voluntarily resigned, according to the arrest warrant.
In late January, police applied for a warrant for Agramonte’s arrest charging him with unauthorized conveyance of items into a correctional institution.
Agramonte turned himself into Connecticut State Police Troop I barracks Thursday on the felony arrest warrant. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond, according to his arrest report.
Agramonte is scheduled to appear at Meriden Superior Court March 17, the report states.
Liz Hardaway is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media through the Hearst Fellowship Program.
She previously worked at the San Antonio Express-News to help cover city hall and local issues. She also worked at the Sun Newspapers in Southwest Florida as a general assignment reporter covering politics, business, and health. 
Liz graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2018 with a B.A. in journalism. She enjoys cooking, reading and playing with her dachshund, Finn.

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