Attorney General Laxalt Announces Sentencing of Correctional Officer in Cellphone Plot


January 29, 2015

Las Vegas, NV – On Jan. 28, 2015, Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced that former correctional officer Derland Blake, 30, of North Las Vegas, Nev. was sentenced to serve up to five years in prison following his guilty plea to a felony bribery charge. Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Kathleen Delaney suspended Blake’s prison sentence to five years on probation.

    “Officer Blake’s corruption threatened the lives and safety of his fellow officers and allowed dangerous convicted criminals to continue to commit crimes while behind bars,” said Laxalt.

      The case arose from a plot in which seven people were charged with smuggling cellphones and other contraband into the High Desert State Prison to assist inmate Ammar Harris, as part of an escape plot. He is currently serving time in connection with a Las Vegas Strip shooting. On May 13, 2014, the phones were found inside inmate Harris’ prison cell. Of the seven other people charged, only the case of Amy Colon of Atlanta, Ga. remains pending. Her trial is currently scheduled to begin in the Eighth Judicial District Court on Mar. 2, 2015.

        The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Karen A. Whelan and Senior Deputy Attorney General Jamie Resch of the Special Prosecutions Division. To read the criminal complaint, click here.

          BLAKE, DERLAND
          2014-08-14 Blake Derland

            (Photo Courtesy of Nevada Department of Corrections)

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