Former sheriff’s probationary deputy Isaiah Thomas Palomo, 20, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony.
Jimmy Robles
Ricardo Delgado
San Antonio Express-News
SAN ANTONIO — A sheriff’s probationary deputy has been arrested and fired after being accused of taking part in a scheme to sneak drugs into the jail, Bexar County Javier Salazar announced Saturday.
Isaiah Thomas Palomo, 20, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony.
During a Saturday news conference, Salazar said Palomo has been identified as being part of an operation to sneak narcotics to inmate Deandre Ross, 24.
Investigators intercepted phone calls during which Ross and Hollisha Janay-Laster Nealy, 24, discussed a drug deal between Nealy and a then-unidentified deputy, Salazar said. The alleged deal was set to take place 9 p.m. Friday night outside of Nealy’s workplace, a Popeye’s on 6127 Callaghan Road on the West Side, he said.
Special operations units witnessed what appeared to be Palomo, who was in his truck, taking part in a handoff with Nealy, the sheriff said.
Law enforcement later stopped Palomo and found cocaine disguised as paperwork in his possession, Salazar said.
“The information that I was given is that for doing this, for bringing this contraband into the jail, he was going to make about $100,” Salazar said. “That $100, I can tell you right now, from experience, that’s not even enough to fill up the tank on that fancy truck he was driving. It’s certainly not enough to throw your entire career away over in an instant.”
Deputies arrested Neely after reestablishing surveillance, Salazar said. They found “additional narcotics and other evidence” in her car, he added.
Nealy has been charged with possession with intent to deliver, a first-degree felony.
Bail was set at $50,000 each for Palomo and Nealy.
Ross was in jail on charges that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession with intent to deliver. He likely will face additional charges, the sheriff said.
“It is possible that there may be additional charges that apply to all three of these suspects,” Salazar said. “We may be looking at a charge of organized crime or conspiracy charge of some sort should be elements rise to that level.”
Palomo was terminated Friday night on a probationary dismissal, the sheriff said. His probationary period would have ended the first week of November.
Salazar said the investigation was “ongoing.”
“These cases like this, that go into a conspiracy, have a way of spider webbing out,” Salazar said.
ricardo.delgado@express-news.net