Meth-smuggling guard sentenced to 5 years in prison

KENANSVILLE — Dawan Dontra McKinzie, a former correctional officer at Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro, was sentenced Tuesday to five years in federal prison and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute.

The 31-year-old Kenansville man admitted in May 2025 to smuggling drugs and contraband into the prison where he was employed, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina, in a press release.

The case has drawn attention due to the breach of trust by a law enforcement official responsible for maintaining safety inside a correctional facility. Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “When those entrusted with public safety break the law, the damage runs deep – inside our prisons and throughout our communities.”

McKinzie’s role as a correctional officer gave him access and authority, which he used to bypass security and introduce dangerous substances into a controlled environment.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the court documents revealed that McKinzie began smuggling drugs between July and October 2023, often hiding them on his person during entry into the facility. A federal investigation launched in November 2023 led authorities to confront McKinzie at his home, where he confessed to receiving a package from an inmate’s wife. He voluntarily showed agents where he kept the contraband, leading to the seizure of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, Suboxone, tobacco, a cellphone, and explicit photographs.

The investigation uncovered incriminating messages on McKinzie’s phone, offering detailed insight into the conspiracy and communication with inmates. His actions not only violated the law but also compromised the safety and integrity of the correctional facility.

“Illicit drugs and contraband endanger the health, safety, and security of our employees, those in our custody and the public,” said Leslie Dismukes, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.