Angela Crosland, a former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Williamsburg in Salters, South Carolina, has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison. The charges against her include bribery, money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine and suboxone, and filing false tax returns. This verdict follows a two-day trial where the jury found her guilty.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Crosland smuggled various contraband items into the prison in exchange for money. These items included drugs like suboxone and methamphetamine, K-2-soaked paper, marijuana, food, and other materials. Records from her Cash App account revealed payments totaling $56,791 from family members and associates of inmates at FCI Williamsburg. Additionally, she did not report this income on her federal tax returns.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina emphasized the importance of ethical conduct within the federal correctional system: "The integrity of our federal correctional system hinges on the ethical conduct of those sworn to uphold it," he stated. He added that smuggling contraband undermines safety for both inmates and staff.
Eric Fehlman, special agent in charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region, highlighted how contraband serves as currency inside prisons: “Contraband items, like drugs, are often used as a form of currency inside federal prisons," he said. He noted that such actions compromise security and result in severe consequences for corrupt officers.
Donald “Trey” Eakins from IRS Criminal Investigation stressed their commitment to tackling financial crimes: “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners,” he stated. He assured that agents are focused on unraveling complex financial transactions involved in corruption cases.
Crosland was sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph Dawson III to 136 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $18,649 to the IRS for filing false tax returns. There is no parole available in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General and IRS Criminal Investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Bill Watkins prosecuting.
