Inmate, Ex-Stillwater Corrections Sentenced For Meth Smuggling

ST. PAUL, MN — A prison inmate and a former corrections officer were both sentenced for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine inside the Stillwater prison, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger on Monday.

Axel Rene Kramer, 37, an inmate who is currently serving a 288-month sentence for second-degree murder, conspired with Faith Rose Gratz, 26, a former Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) – Stillwater corrections officer, authorities said.

Kramer and Gratz were romantically involved, text messages suggest.

Kramer was sentenced to 15 years. Gratz was sentenced to 27 months.

As part of the conspiracy, Kramer obtained large quantities of prepackaged methamphetamine from suppliers outside the prison. He and another inmate coordinated with these suppliers to arrange drop-off times and locations, where Gratz, working as a corrections officer, would retrieve the drug packages.

Gratz smuggled the drugs into the prison and delivered them to Kramer. She carried out this operation about six times, authorities said.

Gratz also smuggled in multiple cell phones into the facility, which she provided to Kramer. He used these phones to communicate with contacts inside and outside the prison, managing his drug distribution network from behind bars.

Court documents reveal that Kramer and Gratz exchanged hundreds of text messages, discussing both their drug trafficking activities and their romantic relationship, according to investigators.

Gratz also tipped off Kramer about upcoming searches of inmates’ cells, helping him avoid detection, authorities said.