Rikers Drug Counselor Accused of Smuggling Heroin, Coke Into Jails
By TOMMY HALLISSEY
The Department of Investigation Sept. 18 arrested a former Substance Abuse Counselor at Rikers Island on charges of attempting to smuggle heroin and cocaine into the jail compound in February.

Juan Delarosa, 56, was charged with attempted promoting of prison contraband in the first degree, a felony, and attempted promoting of prison contraband in the second degree, a misdemeanor. If convicted on both charges, he faces up to four years and three months behind bars.

On Feb. 6, 2008, Mr. Delarosa was arrested near the entrance to Rikers Island, at 19th Ave. and Hazen Street in Queens. Busted with 109 packets of heroin and two bags of cocaine, Mr. Delarosa was on his way to work at the prison. The drug counselor for Prison Health Services, an independent contractor that provides health services to inmates, was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree at that time.

"It's appalling that a person paid to counsel inmates against drug abuse is charged with trying to smuggle heroin and cocaine into the jail, the exact opposite of what he was paid to do," said DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn in a statement.