8 charged in Chester County prison drug smuggling scheme

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- Eight people have been charged in a scheme to smuggle drugs into the Chester County prison, District Attorney Tom Hogan announced on Monday.

Correctional Officer Douglas Keck is accused of obtaining drugs, such as heroin and prescription medications including Subutex and Xanax, from friends of inmates and bringing them into the prison.

He was paid $100 per delivery, Hogan said.

Ray Gibase, an inmate at the time, is accused of being the "middle man," allegedly taking the drugs from Keck and delivering them to other inmates.

Keck was caught by Chester County Detectives on March 23rd during a drug pickup from Brittany Pestcoe - one of the eight charged in this case - at the Wawa in North Coventry Township.

Detectives say Keck had his four-year-old son with him at the time.

All of the suspects face a number of drug-related charges. Keck is also charged with endangering the welfare of his child

"As a result of his greed, this correctional officer is going from guarding inmates to being an inmate," Hogan said in a statement.

Keck has been fired from the prison.

The eight charged in the case are:

-Correctional Officer Douglas Keck, 45, of West Hoffecker Road in Pottstown, Pa. He had worked at the prison since September 9, 2014.

-Ray Gibase, 36, is a fugitive from a halfway house, with a last known address on Greenwood Street in Brookhaven, Pa. He is accused of being the "middle man" in the prison, taking drugs from Keck and delivering them to other inmates.

-Richard Nicoletti, 38, is an inmate at Chester County Prison. Nicoletti is accusing of receiving drugs in the scheme.

-Vladislav Babayan, 30, of Ford Road, Bristol, Pa. Babayan is a friend of Nicoletti, Hogan said, and is accused of working with Keck to provide drugs to Nicoletti.

-Steven Wambold, 24, is an inmate at Chester County Prison. Wambold allegedly received drugs in the scheme.

-Brittany Pestcoe, 21, of Indian Run Drive in Douglassville, Pa. Pestcoe is Wambold's girlfriend, Hogan said, and is accused of taking prescription drugs from the CVS Pharmacy in Douglassville - where she worked - and giving them to Keck for delivery inside the prison.

-Victor Rodriguez, 27, is an inmate at Chester County Prison. Rodriguez allegedly coordinated the purchase of drugs for the scheme through his fiance, Ivelise Rodriquez.

-Ivelise Rodriquez, 34, of West Cayuga Street in Philadelphia. She was the fiance of Victor Rodriguez. She allegedly provided funds and drugs during the scheme, for eventual delivery to Rodriguez through Keck.