Former Prison Employees Admit Giving Cigarettes to Inmates

Two ex-employees of the federal prison medical center in Springfield admit they provided inmates with tobacco, which has been banned at the center for almsot two years. Cassville resident Jared Petree has pleaded guilty to selling ten to twelve pouches of tobacco to inmates who intended to sell it to other prisoners. The prosecutor says Petree was paid $4,000. Marshfield resident Seth Cooper has pleaded guilty to giving an inmate eight bags of tobacco for $750. Both men face six months in prison.