Federal inmate busted while reentering Texas prison with alcohol, tobacco, home-cooked meals
Inmate's arrest sheds light on pattern of escapes from federal prison complex
January 26, 2018
A federal inmate escaped from a minimum security prison in Beaumont and has been captured in what authorities believe to be a pattern of inmates sneaking in prohibited items.
A rancher reported noticing inmates coming in and out of his private land near the prison facility, leading the sheriff's office to set up a sting operation.
The inmate is 25-year-old Joshua Randall Hansen, who is from the Dallas area.
We're told when Hansen was captured near the facility by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies, he was in possession of freshly cooked food, marijuana, alcohol and tobacco. He had sausage links, chicken and other food items.
This happened Wednesday around 7:30 p.m.
Hansen is being charged in Jefferson County with escape and drug possession. He could also face additional charges on the federal level.
The sheriff's office released the following statement about the incident:
Deputies received information that inmates were escaping from the Federal Complex on the back side of the facility and crossing onto private land owned by a local rancher. It was reported that they were picking up contraband and taking it back into the facility.
JCSO Narcotics Investigators and the U.S. Marshalls set up a surveillance around 5:45 p.m.. A vehicle entered onto the private property and made a drop of a large duffle bag. At approximately 7:30 p.m., an inmate ran from the Prison grounds and grabbed the duffle bag. As the escapee was running back towards the Prison, Deputies made the arrest.
The duffle bag contained 3 bottles of Brandy, 1 bottle of Whisky, multiple bags of Buglar tobacco, packaged snacks, fruit and a large amount of home cooked food.
The escapee was identified as 25 year old Joshua Hansen of Dallas, Texas. He was in prison on Narcotics charges. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on the charge of Escape and Possession of Marijuana. He also has a Federal Hold placed on him. The investigation continues.
The rancher who contacted authorities is Michael Latta. He's a 5th-generation cattle rancher and farmer. He says specializes on cows, rice, soybean, and jokingly he said inmates. Latta says he's been dealing with prisoners coming in and out of the prison facility for 18 years.
Latta said, "I have contacted congressmen, senators, I've talked to every warden that's come to the prison." But Latta said he's gotten no results, until he spoke with Deputy Don Metts and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's office set up a sting, which led to the arrest of Hansen.
We reached out to the Federal Prison System, but have not heard back. Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens says her office will work with the feds to investigate, they are trying to locate the person who dropped off the contraband.
"What's shocking is the level of comfort I think these individuals had, smuggling stuff back into their facility, food, alcohol, drugs. I found that shocking and concerning", said Sheriff Stephens.
Latta says he's been told inmates have a map of his property to find the routes that get them to Hillebrandt Road.
He says he's had several confrontations with the prisoners, and has even had to pull his gun on them for protection. Latta said, "I've caught 15 of them myself."
Latta says the inmates hike almost two miles through his property to from the prison to the road. "Taxpayer dollars are being used to keep them in there, it's amazing to me that they can just walk out of there whenever they want", said Latta.
Sheriff Stephens worries about public safety, saying based on this pattern, the inmates could also be smuggling weapons.
Stephens said, "We've definitely confirmed that there is a problem, we need to get with the federal facility and try to help them get it fixed."
Latta said he's even offered to pay for a fence to be put up around the prison camp.
Joshua Randall Hansen (BOP ID 50233-177), 25, was spotted by sheriff’s deputies and U.S. marshals running out the back of a federal prison in Beaumont on Wednesday evening, the statement said. Hansen picked up a large duffle bag that a vehicle had dropped off at a private property adjacent to the prison, authorities said. The deputies said they arrested Hansen as he was trying to reenter the prison.