NEW YORK, NY — Indictments were unsealed May 26 charging nine current and former employees and officers of the New York City Department of Correction with taking cash bribes in return for smuggling contraband such as scalpels, razor blades, drugs, alcohol, and cellphones to inmates in New York City area jails.
Nine defendants were arrested on May 26 and were presented before United States Magistrate Judges. Seven defendants were arrested in New York, one defendant in Pennsylvania, and one defendant in Virginia.
Among those charged is Brian Harrell, 60, of Pelham, New York. He is alleged to have abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle K2, alcohol, cigarettes, and other contraband into the Manhattan Detention Complex, in return for over $6,500 in bribes, from at least in or about May 2020 up through and including in or about June 2020.
According to the indictment, Harrell attempted to smuggle two water bottles filled with liquor and five K2-soaked sheets of paper provided by a relative of an inmate into the Manhattan Detention Complex along with three cartons of cigarettes purchased across the street from the Manhattan Detention Complex.
Harrell carried the water bottles filled with liquor and the cartons of cigarettes in a plastic shopping bag along with a sandwich. He placed the K2-soaked sheets of paper in an envelope and hid the envelope in his sock.
Harrell is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distribution of a controlled substances analogue, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“These defendants were responsible for maintaining a safe and orderly environment in New York City’s jails,” said U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss. “Instead, as alleged, they abused their positions to enrich themselves by smuggling weapons, drugs, and other dangerous contraband in return for thousands of dollars of cash bribes. This alleged activity violated the defendants duties, and endangered the inmates they were charged to supervise and guard.
“The nine defendants charged today risked the safety and security of their colleagues and others within the New York City Department of Correction when they carelessly decided to smuggle contraband into our jails, as we allege today,” said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. “We shouldn’t have to remind public servants that accepting bribes while conducting illegal activity could constitute a federal crime, but when necessary, that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
Full DOJ Statement here.
