April Parrott, of Gordonsville, pleaded guilty Friday, Aug. 14, in Goochland County Circuit Court to conspiring to deliver drugs to a prisoner and possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections.
The case stems from a months-long investigation into an attempted drug smuggling operation at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland County.
And this wasn't a small stash.
VADOC valued the drugs targeted in the alleged smuggling operation at approximately $1.1 million inside the prison.
Parrott wasn't the only person swept up in the investigation, either.
When the case first broke in October 2025, investigators announced six arrests and 13 charges involving an unusual mix of people on both sides of Virginia's corrections system: a former corrections sergeant, three probationers and an inmate.
Parrott was the former sergeant.
She initially faced five charges, including conspiracy to deliver narcotics to a prisoner, attempted delivery of narcotics to a prisoner, two counts of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, and delivery of narcotics to a prisoner.
Nearly 10 months later, her case ended with a deal.
Parrott pleaded guilty to the felony conspiracy charge and misdemeanor possession charge as part of a plea agreement with the Goochland County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, VADOC announced Monday, Aug. 17.
The other three charges were not pursued.
Now the former corrections sergeant could find herself on the other side of the system she once worked for.
Parrott faces a maximum of 11 years behind bars and a $2,500 fine when she is sentenced in December.
The five others arrested in the investigation were Tara Hedges Catona, Brittany Louise Decarli, Michelle Paige Rook, Orline Terry, also known as Arlene Terry, and Stephanie Nicole Vanhoudt.
Their cases are pending.
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