Charges Dropped Against Queens Public Defender After No Drugs Found

A public defender from Queens, who was recently detained for allegedly attempting to smuggle THC-laced papers into Rikers Island, has been exonerated. Prosecutors dropped the case after laboratory tests confirmed the documents contained no drugs.

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office announced that they would not pursue charges against Bernardo Caceres, a staff attorney at Queens Defenders. He was detained on June 11 at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center while visiting inmate Luis DeJesus, who is held on second-degree burglary charges.

During the visit, a K-9 unit flagged an envelope Caceres had brought, prompting correction officers to seize and inspect it. Multiple discolored legal-sized papers were discovered and confiscated by the Correctional Intelligence Bureau. Initially, tests indicated that the papers tested positive for THC, leading to allegations of attempting to smuggle contraband.

However, subsequent lab analysis revealed that the contents of the envelope did not contain any drugs, prompting prosecutors to dismiss the charges. Caceres faced a felony charge of promoting prison contraband, which could have resulted in a prison sentence of up to seven years. The case was later sealed and closed.