United States Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode Island

06/12/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/12/2025 11:50

Massachusetts Attorney Sentenced in a Conspiracy to Smuggle Contraband Inside a Federal Detention Center

Press Release

Massachusetts Attorney Sentenced in a Conspiracy to Smuggle Contraband Inside a Federal Detention Center

Thursday, June 12, 2025
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For Immediate Release
District of Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE - A Massachusetts attorney who participated in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband to a detainee housed at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island has been sentenced to three years' probation, the first six months to be served in home confinement with GPS monitoring, and 100 hours of community service, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Theresa Marie DiJoseph, 51, pleaded guilty on March 12, 2025, to one count each of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and providing a prohibited object to an inmate. She was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose.

In pleading guilty, DiJoseph admitted that in late 2023, she conspired with other individuals to smuggle ten papers soaked with K2, a synthetic marijuana, into the Wyatt Detention Center. DiJoseph also admitted that she later made false statements to the FBI during their investigation into the source of the contraband.

According to information presented to the court, DiJoseph used her status as an attorney to meet multiple times with detainee Shawn D. Hart, 47, with whom she had a personal relationship, in a visiting room used for attorney visits to conduct legal work.

On December 1, 2023, during an attempt to visit with Hart, Wyatt correctional officers seized from DiJoseph 10 sheets of paper that appeared discolored, thicker than normal, and to have been wet and dried. The papers were later sent to an FBI testing lab that confirmed the presence of Schedule I controlled substances.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julianne Klein and Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the FBI and the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Center Professional Standards Unit.

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Contact

Jim Martin

(401 ) 709-5357

Updated June 12, 2025
Component
USAO - Rhode Island
Press Release Number:25-91
United States Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode Island published this content on June 12, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 12, 2025 at 17:50 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io