TALLAHASSEE, FL—William Cassidy, 50, of Florence, Indiana, pled guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain money by operating a private prisoner transportation business under false pretenses. The plea was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment in this case alleged that between October 2010 and June 2014, Cassidy transported prisoners throughout the country as an employee and manager of U.S. Prisoner Extradition Service and Interstate Criminal Extraditions. In contracting with sheriffs’ offices to transport prisoners, including violent felons, from one jurisdiction to another, Cassidy made affirmative misrepresentations concerning the security and treatment of the prisoners, and concealed material facts concerning his fitness to operate as a prisoner transport agent. The indictment alleges that Cassidy concealed the fact that he was on felony probation while transporting prisoners and that his conditions of probation prohibited him from associating with felons, from visiting jails, from carrying weapons, and from leaving the state of Kentucky. The indictment also alleges that during his transportation of female prisoners, Cassidy left the prisoners unrestrained, gave them drugs and alcohol, and had sex with the prisoners in his vehicle and in hotel rooms.

Cassidy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 8, 2015, in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Rhew-Miller.