Inmate smuggled gun into U.S. prison

WILMINGTON -- A prison inmate pleaded guilty Monday to smuggling a gun into the federal lockup at Butner in an attempt to get a reduced sentence.

In a news release, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Lawrence Woodard, 38, and another man arranged to have a gun smuggled into the prison, then led guards to it and blamed other inmates.

Woodard and Craig Lamont Butler were trying to get time off their sentences by telling prison guards the other inmates had the gun, the news release said.

Woodard pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to smuggle a firearm into a federal prison. Butler pleaded guilty in May to obtaining contraband while in prison, the news release said.

Butler was serving time for attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office said. It's not clear why Woodard was imprisoned.

Woodard is scheduled to be sentenced April 13.