Investigation Uncovers Drug-Smuggling Scheme Using Magazines At County Jail
SMITHFIELD. — Four inmates at the Johnston County Detention Center have been charged after investigators say they conspired to smuggle synthetic drugs into the jail by soaking pages of mailed magazines with K2, commonly known as “Spice” or synthetic marijuana.
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office launched the investigation in September 2025 after a detention officer noticed irregularities in the pages of a magazine mailed to an inmate. Authorities said the pages appeared altered and did not feel like normal paper.
With help from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), testing confirmed that the pages had been soaked in a liquid form of synthetic cannabinoids and dried before being sent through the mail. Additional magazines addressed to certain inmates were later intercepted and also tested positive for K2 on selected pages.
Inmates can reportedly tear off small sections of these chemically treated pages and place them under their tongues to achieve a short, intense high. However, K2 is unpredictable and dangerous, with potential side effects including seizures, elevated blood pressure, kidney injury, psychosis, suicidal behavior, and, in rare cases, death.
Following the investigation, deputies charged the following inmates:
Jorge Flores Benitez, 30, of Wendell — originally arrested in September 2025 by Clayton Police for breaking and entering, larceny from a construction site, and possession of methamphetamine.
Hakeem Andre Johnson, 34, of Red Springs — arrested in August 2025 for fleeing to elude arrest and multiple traffic offenses.
Stephen Blake Allen, 39, of Raleigh — arrested in March 2025 for identity theft, fleeing to elude arrest, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Christopher James Pearce, 34, of Smithfield — originally arrested in September 2025 by Smithfield Police for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny.
All four inmates face felony conspiracy charges related to smuggling controlled substances into a correctional facility.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Pearce was also charged with possession of cocaine after investigators reportedly found a small amount of suspected powder cocaine during a search of a jail pod on Nov. 6 as part of the ongoing case.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active and did not release details about who may have been responsible for mailing the K2-laced magazines into the detention center.
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5 Comments
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Easy fix..No more magazines..Of course they will try to find other ways..
The jail allows magazines now, must be kind of a new thing. That’s actually wonderful. What you do for the least of me, you do for me also. We are commanded not to go forget the incarcerated. King of Kings himself was himself incarcerated before as well as His disciples. It’s anti Christian to take away the only thing they have in my opinion. It’s just another way for evil rotten people to ruin for everyone. Don’t let these few thugs win. If anything, spice is barely illegal to start with, it’s legal in some states still I believe, just follow ordinary contraband protocol. Inmates can’t have anything from a second blanket to extra toilet paper. The fact that it was sent in the mail is the biggest factor. They probably were supposed to get it directly from the magazine company, so some kind of trick was played there.
So sad these poor losers need a fix that bad. I hope whoever sent them was able to be tracked down too…
Since when can magazines be mailed by anyone except through subscription by the original publisher? Did the rules change?
This is directly from the detention center website: Newspapers or Magazines may only be received from the publisher (example: subscription).
I don’t think it is the inmates that need to be charged. Go higher up the chain – but we all know they protect each other.
Actually the inmates have to pay to be in jail these day. I forget the rate per day they have to pay but it isn’t usually free.