Correctional Officer Charged with Providing Contraband to Inmates

Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Milton Williams, 27, of Austintown, Ohio, with participating in a conspiracy that sold contraband to inmates at a Federal Correctional Institute in Elkton, Ohio (FCI-Elkton).

According to the indictment, from March 2020 to January 2021, the defendant worked as a Correctional Officer at FCI-Elkton.  The indictment states that during this time, Williams and others participated in a conspiracy that smuggled tobacco and cell phones into the prison and sold them to inmates.  The indictment alleges that inmates made payments through a mobile phone application.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryson N. Gillard.