FCI Danbury Employee Who Smuggled Phones into Prison is Sentenced

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC WILLIAMS, 38, of Danbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to two years of probation for smuggling phones into the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury (FCI Danbury) where he was employed.  Judge Bolden ordered Williams to perform 100 hours of community service while on probation.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams worked in the Food Service Department at FCI Danbury.  On July 9, 2017, Williams attempted to smuggle four mobile phones and an electric beard trimmer into the prison by hiding the items in his hat as he entered the facility through the staff entrance.  When a corrections officer arrived at the staff entrance to screen Williams for admission into the facility, Williams abandoned the attempt and left his hat containing the contraband in the entrance area.  When a supervisory officer found the hat and asked Williams if it belonged to him, Williams denied that it was his hat.

Williams was arrested on July 20, 2018.  On July 1, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of providing contraband in prison.

This matter was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with cooperation from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc H. Silverman and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.