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CLARKSBURG, WV - Two Palm Bay, Florida, residents were sentenced to federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Irene M. Keeley on corruption charges.
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that JASON NOEL SQUIRES, age 28, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release and NIKOLE MONIQUE WATKINS, age 24, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. SQUIRES and WATKINS were sent to prison as a result of both being convicted of the felony offense of “Conspiracy to Commit Bribery of a Public Official and Bribery of a Public Official."
SQUIRES, a correctional officer at FCI Gilmer, admitted that between Jan. 1, 2012, and Aug. 14, 2012, he smuggled tobacco into the prison on multiple occasions. SQUIRES then provided the tobacco to inmates and in exchange, the inmates arranged to have contacts outside of the prison send money to WATKINS, who was the girlfriend of SQUIRES, via Western Union and Postal money grams. WATKINS was aware that SQUIRES was smuggling contraband to inmates. SQUIRES and WATKINS received approximately $40,000 for the tobacco that SQUIRES smuggled into the prison, for which the Court ordered restitution to be made.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Special Investigative Services Unit at FCI Gilmer.
If members of the public have information regarding corruption in their community they are encouraged to call the West Virginia Public Corruption Hotline at 855-WVA-FEDS (855-982-3337), or to send an email to wvafeds@usdoj.gov. All tips received by the hotline will be reviewed by a state or federal agency and then a determination will be made if a full investigation is warranted. Callers may choose to remain anonymous.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
