A Milwaukee woman was charged Sept. 9 with conspiring to deliver drugs to an inmate at Green Bay Correctional Institution.
Here’s what to know about the case.
Who is charged?
Destiny Govani, 21, of Milwaukee.
What are the charges?
Govani is charged in Brown County with:
Conspiracy to commit delivery of schedule I, II or III non-narcotics, possession with intent to deliver or distribute a controlled substance on or near a jail, a felony.
Conspiracy to commit delivery of synthetic cannabinoid less than or equal to 200 grams, possession with intent to deliver or distribute a controlled substance on or near a jail, a felony.
Conspiracy to commite delivery of illegal articles to inmate, a felony.
What happened?
According to a criminal complaint:
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During an “on-going internal investigation” involving the entry of drugs into Green Bay Correctional, a Brown County sergeant began monitoring the communications of an inmate identified in the complaint as JRR. Govani is an approved visitor and contact of JRR.
Between Aug. 22 and Sept. 4, many recorded phone calls between Govani and JRR discussed Govani picking things up before visits with JRR. Investigators believe the messages were in code, using words like “t-shirts” and “shoes” in place of drugs and “canteen orders” in place of drug transactions. JRR used other inmate’s PINs each time he called Govani.
In a phone call from Aug. 22, JRR told Govani to text another inmate’s sister and ask, “What’s up with them t-shirts? Can you get them t-shirts?” During this conversation, JRR also “happily” said, “That’s another 26! We finna be rich!” Later in the day, on another phone call, Govani told JRR that the shirts were “in their original packaging. Not like, you know, re-sale packaging.”
Investigators said “it’s apparent” that JRR and Govani were attempting to access “a variety of intoxicants” for the purpose of smuggling them into Green Bay Correctional. “It’s more likely than not” that Govani had received drugs and successfully smuggled them into the visiting room on at least one occassion.
In a phone call on Aug. 27, Govani told JRR, “I’m about to make some custom t-shirts.” JRR responded by saying, “it ain’t rocket science.” Later that day, Govani received a call from JRR’s cellmate, who asked her if they had a deal. Govani had a scheduled visit Aug. 28 with JRR, at the same time JRR’s cellmate had a visit scheduled.
Govani didn’t show up for the Aug. 28 visit but investigators believe she and JRR planned to bring drugs into Green Bay Correctional that day. Investigaors said JRR’s cellmate was also attempting to have Govani bring drugs in for him.
Govani had a scheduled visit with JRR on Sept. 5. Phone calls in the days leading up to the visit led investigators to believe Govani would attempt to smuggle drugs into the prison again at this visit.
On Sept. 3, Govani told JRR in a phone call that she wanted to stop because there was “too much room for error.” She told him, “I can put these nails out but after that, I don’t know. I don’t know if you remember the first conversation we had about that, it wasn’t supposed to be as much as it is.”
Another inmate messaged Govani on Sept. 3, saying, “I just heard u close down your nail shop, that’s true??????” On Sept. 4, Govani said, “I’m closing it down after Friday. I think I’ll just start doing the nails here and there instead of every week.”
On Sept. 5, law enforcement officers conducted an “operation” as they believed Govani would be attempting to bring drugs in during her scheduled visit. Around the time of the visit, officers spoke to a woman waiting in a car in the parking lot. The woman said JRR was her cousin and that she had driven Govani from Milwaukee to Green Bay to visit him.
The woman told police that when they arrived at the prison, Govani made a comment about “going to jail today.” The woman said Govani seemed paranoid about a black vehicle parking in the lot and no one getting out. She said she had brought Govani to the prison three times in August.
In an interview with investigators, Govani said JRR asked her to bring drugs into the prison and that she thought it was only going to be once. She said JRR told her to keep bringing them in and she agreed because she thought she was helping him. Govani said she began bringing drugs in in July, though she’d been regularly visiting JRR since April.
Govani admitted to investigators that her reference to closing down her “nail shop” and references to “t-shirts” were code for drugs.
Govani told investigators she never received any money for bringing drugs to the prison. She said money would be sent to her Cash App, but she would be told to send it to other people. Govani estimated that she had received “maybe a couple thousand” of dollars since she began smuggling in narcotics. The investigator interviewing her said he wouldn’t be surprised if it was over $100,000 due to the amount being brought in.
Govani confirmed at least seven other individuals who were involved in the distribution of narcotics at Green Bay Correctional.
What’s next?
Govani made her initial appearance in court Sept. 9. She was released from Brown County Jail custody Sept. 9 after paying a $5,000 bail.
Govani returns to court Oct. 1 for a status conference.
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@greenbay.gannett.com or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Milwaukee woman charged with attempt to deliver drugs to Green Bay prison