The Department of Corrections launched an internal affairs investigation into the arrest of a correction officer found with contraband on April 23 at its Mangilao facility.
On April 23, DepCor’s Special Operations Response Team conducted an administrative search on officers reporting for duty.
During the search, one officer, who has been employed with the department since January 2020, had in his possession tobacco, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
That officer is 30-year-old Travis William Francis Venus.
Four baggies of chewing tobacco, two vape pens, and two small baggies with suspected methamphetamine, which later tested positive for meth during a field test, and one fabricated glass pipe with a bulbous end, were the items found in Venus’ bag during the search, which was confiscated.
The officer will be placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the Internal Investigation, when and if he’s released by the court.
“The Department of Corrections takes these allegations seriously and will continue to ensure that every effort is taken to stop the introduction of contraband into its facility,” said a press release issued by DepCor Spokesperson Maj. Antone Aguon.
He was booked and confined at DepCor.
As the Pacific News Center previously reported, he told Guam Police Department officers that he picked up food from a man in Mangilao to give to an inmate and didn’t know there was anything other than the food inside the bag.
Venus was charged with possession with intent to deliver a schedule two controlled substance as a first degree felony, promoting major prison contraband as a second degree felony, possession of a schedule two controlled substance as a third degree felony, and official misconduct as a misdemeanor.
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