A guard at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, formerly known as San Quentin State Prison, has admitted taking over $100,000 in bribes in exchange for smuggling methamphetamine, marijuana and tobacco to inmates.
Keith Reindeer Randle, 56, of Vallejo pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to possession with intent to distribute over 300 grams of methamphetamine, prosecutors said.
Randle charged inmates and their associates about $1,000 per item he smuggled into the prison in a scheme dating back to at least January 2019 and continuing through Aug. 15, 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
Fearing discovery, Randle switched to accepting bribes from the associates of inmates rather than inmates themselves, prosecutors said.
He was caught inside San Quentin with a hollowed out peanut butter jar containing 301 grams of methamphetamine, as well as marijuana. The peanut butter jar was painted brown and glued shut to appear full and unopened, prosecutors said.
From January 2019 through April 2020, Randle was paid $31,000 from associates of inmates to his PayPal account in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
From July 2021 through August 2022, Randle received about $40,926 through Cash App from an inmate’s wife in exchange for smuggling contraband to her husband. In 2023 and 2024, Randle primarily only accepted cash.
Federal law enforcement officers seized $55,210 in cash from Randle’s two residences on Oct. 1, 2024, prosecutor said.
Randle said he used his profits to make numerous purchases, such as cars, motorcycles, and other assets.
He faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment and a $5 million fine, prosecutors said.