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The BOP operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate individuals imprisoned for federal crimes and detain those awaiting trial or sentencing in federal court. The BOP has approximately 36,000 employees and operates 114 institutions, 6 regional offices, and 2 staff training centers. The BOP is responsible for the custody and care of approximately 202,000 federal offenders, 166,000 of whom are confined in BOP-operated correctional institutions and detention centers. The remainder are confined in facilities operated by state or local governments or in privately operated facilities. |
Investigations
During this reporting period, the OIG received 2,549 complaints involving the BOP. The most common allegations made against BOP employees were official misconduct, abuse, and rights violations. The vast majority of complaints dealt with non-criminal issues that the OIG referred to the BOP’s Office of Internal Affairs for review.
At the close of the reporting period, the OIG had 238 open cases of alleged misconduct against BOP employees. The criminal investigations covered a wide range of allegations, including introduction of contraband, bribery, and sexual abuse. The following are examples of cases involving the BOP that the OIG’s Investigations Division handled during this reporting period:
A joint investigation by the OIG’s Miami Field Office and the FBI led to the arrest of an inmate and his civilian brother on charges relating to a money laundering conspiracy. The investigation reviewed allegations that two inmates corrupted staff at the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida, by providing financial advice in exchange for favorable treatment. We determined that the inmates were using the BOP e-mail, telephone, and mail systems to carry out their scheme to launder more than $5.7 million in illicit assets. The funds were laundered through a complex scheme using offshore accounts to invest in movies produced through a California-based production company, with profits returned to the inmates’ family. Additionally, bulk cash was invested in a New York-based warehousing company as well as Florida-based real estate ventures. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of the interests of the brothers in real estate, bank accounts, and business ventures held in the names of the subjects or their nominees. To date, the investigation has located approximately $3.7 million in real estate, bank accounts, and substitute assets available for forfeiture. The original allegation concerning staff corruption is ongoing. The civilian brother has pled guilty. Judicial proceedings against the previously arrested inmate and the second inmate continue.
An investigation by the OIG’s San Francisco Area Office led to the arrest of a BOP lieutenant on charges of deprivation of rights under color of law and falsification of a report in order to obstruct an investigation. OIG investigators determined that the lieutenant beat an inmate with a flashlight and then falsely reported to the BOP and OIG that the inmate’s injuries were self-inflicted. The lieutenant resigned from his position with the BOP as a result of our investigation. Two other correctional officers were given 30-day suspensions for failure to report and providing false information regarding the incident. Judicial proceedings continue for the lieutenant.
An investigation by the OIG’s Miami Field Office led to the arrest and guilty plea of a BOP correctional officer on charges of conspiracy, bribery, and introduction of contraband into a federal correctional facility. OIG investigators determined that the correctional officer conspired with an inmate and the inmate’s girlfriend to introduce tobacco and a knife into the facility in exchange for approximately $5,600. The correctional officer was sentenced to 41 months’ incarceration followed by 36 months’ supervised release. The correctional officer also was terminated from his position with the BOP as a result of the investigation. Sentencing for the inmate is pending.
In our March 2008 Semiannual Report to Congress, we reported on an investigation by the OIG’s New York Field Office that led to the conviction of 10 BOP correctional officers charged with violating the civil rights of inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. In the first incident in November 2002, five correctional officers participated in a planned beating of an inmate and then attempted to disguise the attack by planting a noose in the inmate’s cell and claiming in written reports that the inmate became combative as they attempted to prevent him from committing suicide. A second incident occurred in April 2006 where five correctional officers, including one who participated in the previously described attack, physically assaulted a different inmate in an elevator while escorting him to a special housing unit within the facility.
In our September 2007 Semiannual Report to Congress, we reported on an investigation by the OIG’s Miami Field Office that led to the arrest of four BOP correctional officers assigned to the Rivers Correctional Institution in Winton, North Carolina. The investigation determined that the four correctional officers assaulted an inmate during a dispute regarding a food tray and submitted memoranda to the BOP that contained false information related to the incident. During this reporting period, two of the correctional officers were convicted by a jury trial on charges of deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy, and false statements. They each were sentenced to 30 months’ incarceration followed by 3 years’ supervised release and ordered to pay $3,701 in restitution. The third correctional officer pled guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law and was sentenced to 6 months’ incarceration followed by 2 years’ supervised release and was ordered to pay $3,701 in restitution. The fourth correctional officer pled guilty to making a false statement and was sentenced to 24 months’ probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine. All four correctional officers resigned from their positions with the BOP as a result of the investigation.
An investigation by the OIG’s Houston Area Office led to the arrest of a BOP employee services specialist pursuant to an indictment for theft of public money. OIG investigators found that the employee services specialist stole $65,155 from the BOP by submitting fraudulent claims for overtime. The employee resigned from her position with the BOP as a result of our investigation. Judicial proceedings continue.
A joint investigation by the OIG’s Chicago Field Office and the FBI led to the arrest of two BOP correctional officers on charges of civil rights violations, conspiracy, and smuggling a weapon into a federal prison. The investigation determined that the correctional officers taunted an inmate in the segregated housing unit, doused him with water, and verbally threatened his life. One of the correctional officers also entered the inmate’s cell with a knife. Judicial proceedings continue.
An investigation by the OIG’s Chicago Field Office led to the arrest of a BOP licensed practical nurse and nursing assistant in the District of Minnesota charging each with sexual abuse of a ward. OIG investigators determined that both the nurse and nursing assistant had an ongoing sexual relationship with a male inmate under their custodial supervision and control. Both resigned from their positions with the BOP as a result of our investigation. Judicial proceedings continue.
An investigation by the OIG’s Dallas Field Office led to the arrest of two BOP correctional officers and a cook foreman on charges of sexual abuse of a ward. OIG investigators determined that the subjects sexually abused inmates incarcerated at the Big Spring Correctional Center, a BOP contract facility located in Big Spring, Texas. During subject interviews, one correctional officer admitted to sexually abusing an inmate 20 to 30 times; the second correctional officer admitted to sexually abusing two separate inmates; and the cook foreman admitted to sexually abusing an inmate more than 20 times. Judicial proceedings continue.
An investigation by the OIG’s Washington Field Office led to the arrest of a BOP senior correctional officer on charges of bribery of a public official, sexual abuse of a ward, conspiracy to possess contraband in a federal prison, and possession of contraband in a federal prison. OIG investigators determined that the senior correctional officer accepted cash payments and jewelry from an inmate in exchange for sex and provided contraband to the inmate, including marijuana, prescription drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. The inmate previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 2 years’ incarceration. The senior correctional officer pled guilty to charges of bribery of a public official and to carnal knowledge with an inmate. Sentencing is pending.
During this reporting period, a BOP captain involved in the November 2002 attack and subsequent cover-up was sentenced to 51 months’ incarceration followed by 3 years’ supervised release. Two correctional officers involved in this attack, who eventually cooperated with the government, pled guilty and were sentenced during this reporting period. The first correctional officer was sentenced to 6 months’ home confinement followed by 5 years’ probation, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine for violating the civil rights of an inmate and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The second correctional officer was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service for violating the civil rights of an inmate and providing false statements. Also during this reporting period, two correctional officers involved in the April 2006 attack and cover-up were sentenced to 41 months’ and 36 months’ incarceration, respectively, followed by 36 months’ supervised release. In addition, a BOP lieutenant was sentenced to 15 months’ incarceration and a correctional officer was sentenced to 9 months’ incarceration followed by 6 months’ home confinement. The last correctional officer, who also cooperated in the investigation, was sentenced to 4 years’ probation and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and pay a $3,000 fine pursuant to his guilty plea to a false statement charge. All defendants in this case have been sentenced and either resigned or were terminated from their positions with the BOP.
Ongoing Work
The BOP’s Administration of the Witness Security Program
The Witness Security Program (WITSEC) provides protection to federal witnesses and their family members who agree to testify against drug traffickers, terrorists, members of organized crime enterprises, and other major criminals. The OIG previously examined the USMS’s and the Criminal Division’s roles in the WITSEC program. Our third audit in this series is assessing the BOP’s role in WITSEC, including the BOP’s security for WITSEC prisoners in its custody.