On July 13, 2026, a former BOP inmate was sentenced to two terms of five years of supervised release, to be served concurrently. James Hughes was charged in the Northern District of Georgia. According to the indictment, Hughes, an inmate plumber at the United Stated Penitentiary (USP) in Atlanta, Georgia, conspired with his supervisor, BOP Maintenance Worker Patrick Shackelford, to drill a hole underneath the visitation sink, through which large amounts of contraband could be deposited into a voided area in the suicide ward. Shackelford further provided weekly escorts for Hughes to retrieve contraband from the voided area and escorted Hughes to housing units, where the contraband was delivered. According to Hughes, Shackelford received a $5,000 cash bribe and pain pills. The investigation was conducted by the OIG’s Charleston Locale and the FBI.
Date Issued
Case Action
Sentencing