Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
A federal correctional officer has been arrested on charges of bribery and introducing contraband into a prison, according to Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney. Michael Jason Brooks, 37, from Citra, faces allegations involving one count of receiving a bribe by a public official and one count of providing contraband to a federal prisoner. If found guilty, Brooks could face up to 15 years in federal prison for the bribery charge and an additional six months for the contraband offense.
Court documents reveal that on June 12, 2024, while employed as a correctional officer at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Brooks allegedly agreed to accept money in exchange for introducing contraband into the facility for an inmate. On that date, he reportedly provided tobacco as contraband to an inmate.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation of a federal criminal offense. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
