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11 Arrested In Bushnell Prison Contraband Case

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By MARK DOUGLAS

News Channel 8

Published: January 25, 2008

BUSHNELL - The U.S. Attorney's Office in Ocala today announced the arrest of 11 people in connection with a long-running investigation into contraband smuggling at the Coleman Federal Correctional Institution in Bushnell.

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.

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 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 Thursday. 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.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Bonner says the arrests were made without incident at the workers' homes.

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