ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A St. Johns County inmate and his girlfriend were arrested after investigators uncovered an alleged plan to smuggle nicotine products onto restricted sheriff’s office property, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Security Threat Intelligence specialists discovered the scheme while reviewing remote inmate video visits on April 13, 2026.
Investigators learned inmate Devin Delaney allegedly instructed his girlfriend, 20-year-old Jacqueline Mottor, to purchase nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches and hide them on sheriff’s office property so he could retrieve them while assigned to a work squad.
According to detectives, Mottor agreed to the plan and was later captured on surveillance video trespassing in a restricted law enforcement area on April 12 to hide the contraband.
Deputies later located Delaney in possession of 14 nicotine pouches, while a nicotine vape device was recovered from a portable restroom on sheriff’s office property.
Officials noted both Delaney and Mottor are under Florida’s legal age requirement to possess nicotine or tobacco products.
Authorities said Delaney was removed from the sheriff’s office work squad and charged with:
- Possession of Contraband
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
- Violation of Probation
Mottor was arrested and charged with:
- Introduction of Contraband
- Interference With Custody of a County Prisoner
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
- Trespass on Posted Law Enforcement Restricted Property
Rob Hardwick addressed the arrests in a statement:
“Introducing contraband to our facilities is a serious crime and threatens the safety and security of SJSO personnel, inmates, and our community. The Corrections Division works diligently to ensure a secure facility, and in this case, quickly assessed and resolved this issue. Our staff remain vigilant and focused on our inmate population and their activities. Thank you for your hard work and keeping our jail safe. Anyone bringing illegal items onto restricted law enforcement property or communicating with an inmate in an authorized manner will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”