Menu
Aramark employee arrested for trafficking
PUTNAMVILLE -- A contractual worker at Putnamville Correctional Facility was arrested Thursday morning for attempted trafficking with an offender.
Aaron Flora, 44, of Brazil, was arrested on a preliminary charge of trafficking with an inmate, a Class C felony.
When Flora arrived to work Thursday morning, Correctional Officer Sharon Wernick was monitoring the facility's X-ray machine and observed what appeared to be a package concealed in a can of coffee he was attempting to bring into the facility.
A search of the container and of Flora revealed four cell phones, a large quantity of tobacco and rolling papers.
During an interview with Correctional Police Officer Troy Keith, Flora admitted to trafficking, stating that the items were intended for offender Jason Wyttenbach, 40, of Indianapolis.
Flora was placed under arrest and transported to the Putnam County Jail.
"Volunteers, state and contractual staff receive extensive training in offender manipulation tactics and how to avoid them," Putnamville Superintendent Stanley Knight said. "Unfortunately, some still succumb to offender coercion to traffic and betray their obligations."
Wyttenbach is being held in administrative segregation and could face criminal charges pending the outcome of an investigation. He is currently serving a multiple-felony sentence.
His projected release date, before these new allegations, was Sept. 8, 2016, for a felony conviction of theft and fraud.
Flora has been employed at Putnamville since November 2011 as an Aramark contractual worker.
"In a prison environment, it's not a question of 'if', but 'when' your illegal activity will be detected," Knight said, "and not a question of 'if' criminal charges will be pursued, but 'how long' of a sentence you may receive."