Press Release

Case Number: 2019-014902
Incident Type: Introduction of Contraband
Location: 14470 Harlee Rd., Palmetto, Fl. (Jail) / 2705 County Line Rd (Jail Visitation Center)
Suspect: Little, Kena W/F 10-06-66
Suspect: Charles Ricker W/M 9-26-61

On 5/21/19 deputies at the Manatee County Jail learned that drugs were possibly coming into the jail via mail starting the next day. On 5/22/19 detectives began an investigation, soon identifying Kena Little as the inmate wanting to get drugs into the jail so she could get high.

Through investigative means detectives developed Charles Ricker as the person who was communicating with Little about sending drugs through the jail mail system.

On 5/30/19 three post cards addressed to Little, from the sender (Addressed Chuck Ricker) were delivered to the jail through the U.S. Postal Service. Detectives inspected the cards and found that there was a lack of adhesive on the stamps and that they could be easily peeled back.

The post cards with the stamps in question were sent to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab for testing. Detectives later learned from the MCSO chemist that all three of the stamps tested positive for methamphetamine, a Schedule 2 controlled substance under FSS 893.02-4.

On 6/5/19 detectives arrested Kena Little in the female pod at the jail and charged her with Principal to Attempt Introduction of Contraband. Also on 6/5/19 Charles Ricker showed up at the jail Visitation Center for a scheduled visit with Little and he was taken into custody. Ricker is charged with Introduction of Contraband.
Additional charges could be forthcoming.