ST. LOUIS – A former employee from the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center, located in Bonne Terre, Missouri, admitted in court to smuggling drugs as well as knives into the prison.

Steven M. Reminger, 53, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. 

Reminger formerly worked at the prison as an electronics technician, and court documents say inmates told officials that the 53-year-old was bringing drugs into the prison. According to court documents, Reminger—under a fake name—mailed drugs to a Post Office box in Farmington. 

On Nov. 8, 2021, a Postal Inspection Service inspector found out that Reminger received 12 packages between November 2021 and May 2022. He was not taken to the police until May 25, 2022, where Postal Inspectors grew suspicious.

Inspectors found about $4,000 in cash, fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, K2, knives, cell phones and marijuana, all of which were sealed.

Reminger said it was “possible” that the sealed packages brought in caused inmate overdoses when questioned about the items. He, however, admitted to being unaware of the items in the packages.

From the smuggling scheme, Reminger claims he made no more than $50,000. The former employee also turned over $15,000 in cash to investigators, but court documents say the rest of the funds Reminger gained were spent on a dune buggy and two trailers.

Each charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2025.