Ten people from Pennsylvania and Arizona have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on racketeering charges connected to activities inside Cambria County Prison. The indictment includes allegations of bribery conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
The indictment, returned on July 22 and unsealed today, names Lakesha Stith, Ashley Aguilar, Mikal Davis, James Johnson-Ross, Marcos Monarrez Jr., Jessica Niebauer, Monique Valencia, Blake Young, Asiah Young-Atwell, and Carlos Zamora as defendants. Some are currently incarcerated at various facilities.
According to the indictment, between July 2023 and December 19, 2023, several defendants conducted racketeering activities within Cambria County Prison. Two employees of the facility—Stith (a correctional officer) and Young-Atwell (a medical staff nurse)—are accused of accepting bribes from inmate defendants in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison. Items allegedly brought in include controlled substances such as K2 (synthetic cannabinoid), Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Suboxone strips, cell phones, security tools, and cigarettes.
The indictment states that Stith and Young-Atwell concealed these items in lunch bags or containers to bypass screening procedures. They delivered contraband to various locations within the prison including medical department examination rooms without cameras and storage closets designated as stash spots. The two employees also reportedly warned inmates about upcoming searches and shared confidential information related to internal security.
Inmates allegedly used contraband phones to coordinate trafficking with Stith, Young-Atwell, and individuals outside the prison—including Aguilar, Niebauer, and Valencia—who are charged separately with money laundering conspiracy tied to the alleged racketeering activity. The contraband was sold at high prices within the prison; cell phones reportedly sold for $10,000 each while Suboxone strips ranged from $75 to $250.
“It is extremely dangerous when individuals employed within our prison systems choose to abuse their authority at the expense of the safety and well-being of inmates they are charged with overseeing,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Not only did the correctional officer and medical staff member in this case engage in inappropriate personal relations with inmates and accept bribes for sneaking contraband into the prison, which the defendant inmates then sold to others at a substantial profit, but they also provided confidential information about planned inmate cell searches and other internal security matters. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that this criminal abuse of trust is prosecuted regardless of whether those committing the acts are inside or outside of the confines of the prison.”
“Today’s RICO Indictment underscores the critical importance of our concerted efforts to protect both public and inmate safety,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “This investigation has revealed the significant threat posed by transnational criminal organizations within our correctional facilities. The successful outcome of this operation is directly attributable to the effective interagency cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The inherent challenges of bringing RICO cases to trial highlight the exceptional skill and dedication of our investigators and prosecutors. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and ensuring the security of our communities.”
“Prisons have unique security challenges that are complex and require all involved to act in accordance with the law and procedures,” said Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer. “Inspections and reviews of compliance are an integral part of ensuring the maintenance of security at any prison to ensure the health and safety of inmates and correction officers alike. When it became apparent that certain individuals within the Cambria County Prison were engaging in corrupt activities, prison leadership, the Prison Board, and law enforcement took appropriate steps to contain the problem and worked alongside our federal partners to ensure that these perpetrators of criminal activity were brought to justice. We appreciate the special relationship that we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we thank them for their hard work on this matter. This is yet another example of the successes our community experiences when local, state, and federal entities all work together toward a common goal.”
If convicted on all counts under federal law, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison along with possible fines up to $250,000 per count; actual sentences would depend on factors such as offense severity or prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Shaun Sweeney are prosecuting this case for the government.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) including its Safe Streets Task Force division; Cambria County District Attorney’s Office; as well as Cambria County Prison officials.
It is important to note that an indictment is not proof of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
