Rathit

A Fort Worth man has had 30 years tacked onto his prison time after being convicted of using his position in a prison library to smuggle methamphetamine into the joint.

Edmond Wright, 34, was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Seagoville when he tried to smuggle in drugs through the prison's Inter-Library Loan program, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper.

He was sentenced Monday on one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of attempting to possess contraband in prison. A federal court jury convicted him in April.

Federal prosecutors alleged that between March and September of 2005, Wright"used his position in the Education Department to smuggle methamphetamine into the prison using the Inter-Library Loan Program, which allowed inmates to request specific books from local libraries, including the Dallas Public Library."

According to Roper's statement, Wright"intended to sell drugs while incarcerated."

Also convicted in April was Wright's girlfriend, Sherry Matthews, 42, also of Fort Worth, who was named a co-conspirator in the case. She was convicted on one count of attempting to provide contraband in prison, and on Monday was sentenced to five years in prison.

Wright's new 30-year sentence is to be served consecutive to two other federal cases for which he is already serving time, according to Roper's statement.

He was earlier convicted for possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute it and aiding and abetting, according to federal court records.

He previously received 15 years for his conviction in the Fort Worth Division of the Northern District of Texas, and a consecutive three years for his conviction in the Eastern District of Texas.

Between those sentences and the ones he got Monday, Wright's total term of imprisonment is 48 years, of which he has served approximately 10, according to Roper's statement.