Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Edward Davis (52, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with one count of providing contraband into a prison. He faces a maximum penalty of six months in federal prison.
According to court records, Davis is a retired Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) correctional officer. In 2019, he was working as a BOP correctional officer at the United States Penitentiary II, Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Florida. Between December 10, 2018, and February 1, 2019, Davis gave contraband to Coleman inmates in exchange for payment. When confronted, Davis told BOP staff that he “really messed up,” had “a weak moment,” and “brought cigarettes in for an inmate.” Davis added that he had been paid in two separate transactions for smuggling in the contraband—one payment was for $1,300 and another payment was for $1,400. Cigarettes are an item prohibited by the prison’s rules. If possessed by inmates, they threaten the order, discipline, and security of the prison as well as the life, health, and safety of other prisoners and staff.
This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Originally published at https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/former-bureau-prisons-correctional-officer-pleads-guilty-providing-contraband-federal
