Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
James P. Jackson, a 39-year-old from Niles, Ohio, has admitted to using his position at a state prison to smuggle illegal substances and other banned items to an inmate. Court documents reveal that Jackson worked at the Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) in Leavittsburg from 2022 through 2024. Initially serving as a corrections officer and later as a general maintenance worker, he had access to non-public areas of the facility.
The documents allege that Jackson communicated with the wife of a TCI inmate via text messages and phone calls. They eventually met on February 1, 2024, when she gave him two large packages intended for her husband in exchange for an initial $1,000 bribe. She promised another $1,000 upon successful delivery. However, law enforcement intercepted Jackson the following day before he could bring the packages into TCI.
Investigations showed that the packages contained various drugs including methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoid, phencyclidine (PCP), along with a cellphone and SIM cards.
On July 15, 2025, Jackson pleaded guilty to charges under Hobbs Act extortion for accepting money to smuggle contraband into TCI using his role as an employee. He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The investigation was carried out by multiple agencies including the FBI Cleveland Division and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea S. Rice and Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio.
