By Staff
Gederberg placed in federal custody
By NIKIE MAYO
News Editor
The Washington County probation officer accused of using her job and car to cart crack will remain in jail without the benefit of bail until authorities find a “suitable person or place” to release her to until her trial date.
Patricia Lisa Gederberg, 41, of Plymouth, was remanded to the custody of U.S. marshals Wednesday morning after federal magistrate David Daniel denied her release from jail. She returned to the Pitt County Detention Center, but authorities have the option of moving her to another facility.
Gederberg, a probation surveillance officer for the N.C. Division of Community Corrections’ branch in Washington County, is charged with aiding and abetting the distribution of crack. Law-enforcement officers arrested her last week after, according to them, she agreed to transport 17 grams of crack from Washington County to Martin County in exchange for a $100 payment.
The Wednesday appearance was her second one in U.S. Eastern District Court in Greenville. Gederberg’s lawyer asked to postpone her detention hearing until Wednesday after Plymouth officers presented evidence Monday that she should not be released to the custody of her live-in boyfriend, investigator Brian Edmondson said.
Daniel previously found that “probable cause exists” to charge Gederberg, who was a patrol officer with the Plymouth Police Department before joining the corrections agency. A federal grand jury is expected to hear the charge against her in July.
Plymouth police officers worked with law-enforcement officials with Washington and Beaufort counties and the Federal Bureau of Investigation during a two-month probe of Gederberg’s activities.
For agreeing to transport the illegal drugs, which have a street value of $500, Gederberg faces a minimum five-year prison sentence and up to four decades behind bars if convicted. She could also face up to a $2 million fine.