Former Corrections officer gets 2 years in cocaine case

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

A former private prison security officer goes from guarding inmates to becoming one after attempting to secure cocaine for an inmate.

Juan Nunez, 41, of Coolidge was sentenced Monday to 24 months in a federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Nunez previously pleaded guilty to attempt to furnish an inmate with contraband on April 10.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix said Nunez was busted after buying a half-ounce of cocaine from an undercover FBI agent in Tucson Nov. 6.

Nunez was correctional officer employed by Corrections Corporation of America and worked at privately run detention center in Florence.

Online: www.usdoj.gov/usao/az/