Nine of those arrested in the case are Federal Bureau of Prisons workers, one is an inmate and another is the girlfriend of a prison worker.
The arrests are the culmination of several investigations that began in late 2005, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Acting U.S. Attorney Carolyn Adams says the indictments announced today center on the smuggling of contraband such as cigarettes, cell phones, a knife, and even heroin into the prison by corrections officers, a cook and a correctional treatment specialist.Officials with the Department of Justice said a number of them are now charged with smuggling drugs and weapons to inmates at the federal prison complex in Coleman.
An assistant U.S. attorney said 11 people are facing charges related to the incident at the prison complex.
The charges range from conspiracy to commit bribery to providing contraband to inmates and one case of having sex with an inmate.
None of the people facing charges would comment on the case.
In addition to several correctional officers, one of those charged was a prison cook, another was a correctional treatment specialist, and a third was a girlfriend of a prison officer. A prison inmate was also charged.
Investigators said the officers smuggled cigarettes, cell phones, heroin and a knife to inmates in exchange for money.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Adams was asked how the officers were able to smuggle the contraband inside the prison.
"At the time of these offenses, the correctional officers could take their own personal items into the prison and were able to take those items in with them. The policy has changed at the Bureau of Prisons as of just a couple of weeks ago," Adams said. "Now, anyone who goes into the facility is subject to search."
The investigation dates to 2005. Those charged could face six months to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Investigators say until a few weeks ago such illegal activity was made possible because prison workers were not subject to search when reporting for duty. Now they are.
Adams said a pack of cigarettes would sell for $100 to $350 dollars because inmates are not allowed to smoke in prison. She said cell phones sold for $2,000.
Four of the prison workers were arrested or arraigned yesterday. Investigators are transporting the inmate from Coleman, and the others started pleading guilty to conspiracy, bribery and contraband charges starting back in December after earlier arrests.
All but one of the cases centers on the men's facilities at Coleman and involved the exchange of money for contraband. The one that occurred in the women's section involved a sex act committed by a male correctional officer with a female inmate.
Investigators from the FBI and the Inspector General's Office conducted the corruption investigation.
The crimes are punishable by fines up to $250,000 and 15 years in prison.
The arrests are the culmination of several investigations that began in late 2005, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Acting U.S. Attorney Carolyn Adams says the indictments announced today center on the smuggling of contraband such as cigarettes, cell phones, a knife, and even heroin into the prison by corrections officers, a cook and a correctional treatment specialist.Officials with the Department of Justice said a number of them are now charged with smuggling drugs and weapons to inmates at the federal prison complex in Coleman.
An assistant U.S. attorney said 11 people are facing charges related to the incident at the prison complex.
The charges range from conspiracy to commit bribery to providing contraband to inmates and one case of having sex with an inmate.
None of the people facing charges would comment on the case.
In addition to several correctional officers, one of those charged was a prison cook, another was a correctional treatment specialist, and a third was a girlfriend of a prison officer. A prison inmate was also charged.
Investigators said the officers smuggled cigarettes, cell phones, heroin and a knife to inmates in exchange for money.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Adams was asked how the officers were able to smuggle the contraband inside the prison.
"At the time of these offenses, the correctional officers could take their own personal items into the prison and were able to take those items in with them. The policy has changed at the Bureau of Prisons as of just a couple of weeks ago," Adams said. "Now, anyone who goes into the facility is subject to search."
The investigation dates to 2005. Those charged could face six months to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Investigators say until a few weeks ago such illegal activity was made possible because prison workers were not subject to search when reporting for duty. Now they are.
Adams said a pack of cigarettes would sell for $100 to $350 dollars because inmates are not allowed to smoke in prison. She said cell phones sold for $2,000.
Four of the prison workers were arrested or arraigned yesterday. Investigators are transporting the inmate from Coleman, and the others started pleading guilty to conspiracy, bribery and contraband charges starting back in December after earlier arrests.
All but one of the cases centers on the men's facilities at Coleman and involved the exchange of money for contraband. The one that occurred in the women's section involved a sex act committed by a male correctional officer with a female inmate.
Investigators from the FBI and the Inspector General's Office conducted the corruption investigation.
The crimes are punishable by fines up to $250,000 and 15 years in prison.
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