ALEXANDRIA, La. -United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a former correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, La., along with a relative of an inmate, pleaded guilty Monday for their roles in a conspiracy to introduce a cell phone into the prison.
Maggie Kay Comeaux, 28, of Ball, La., entered a conditional guilty plea to one count of conspiracy, and Paris Smith, 21, of Detroit, Mich., entered a conditional guilty plea to one count of providing contraband to a prisoner to U.S. Magistrate Judge James D. Kirk. The pleas will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. According to the evidence presented at the guilty pleas, from January 2013 to April 2013, Comeaux accepted a $400 bribe from Smith and two other conspirators to smuggle a cell phone and charging cords into the prison. A review of the subscriber information showed that the phone was listed in Smith’s name. Also, a record of a money wire transfer showed that $400 was sent to Comeaux.
Comeaux faces up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy, and Smith faces one year in prison and one year of supervised release for providing contraband to a prisoner. They also face up to a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of February 5, 2015 was set for both defendants.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
