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Press Release

Washington D.C. Woman Pleads Guilty To Providing Contraband To Inmate

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Tianna Thompson, age 26, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty on April 4, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley to the charge of providing contraband to an inmate at the United States Penitentiary at Canaan.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Thompson admitted to providing several small packages of marijuana to inmate Charles Elegalam, age 30, formerly of Washington D.C., on July 1, 2017, during a social visit at the United States Penitentiary at Canaan. The marijuana packages were subsequently seized from Elegalam by prison staff members.  Thompson and Elegalam were indicted by a grand jury in September 2017.  The charges against Elegalam are currently pending.

Judge Munley ordered a presentence report to be completed.  Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

 

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Updated April 5, 2018