Two former employees of the Federal Medical Center Lexington, a federal prison managed by the Bureau of Prisons, have been sentenced for separate incidents involving bribery and illegal gratuities.
A. Jade Howard, 36, from Port Charlotte, Florida, received a sentence of 12 months and one day for bribery. According to court documents, Howard worked at FMC Lexington as a correctional officer and later as a materials handler between 2021 and October 2024. During this time, she was aware that inmates were not allowed to possess contraband such as cigarettes or illicit substances and that she had an obligation to report any such activity. Despite this knowledge, Howard agreed to smuggle cigarettes into the facility after being approached by an inmate offering payment. She also brought in what she believed was synthetic marijuana—later identified through lab testing as 5F-ADB, a Schedule I controlled substance—in exchange for money. Between December 2023 and December 2024, Howard received $18,602 via mobile banking applications.
Ariel Zulewski, 29, from Georgetown, Kentucky, was sentenced to 12 months for abusive sexual contact and receipt of an illegal gratuity. Court records show that Zulewski worked at FMC Lexington as a recreational specialist from December 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024. During her employment there, Zulewski engaged in sexual contact with an inmate despite knowing such conduct was prohibited between staff and inmates. She also provided the inmate with contraband items including tobacco and vapes and knew about his possession of a cell phone inside the facility. On two occasions—December 9, 2023 and January 17, 2024—Zulewski accepted CashApp payments totaling $500 for supplying contraband and concealing its possession.
Federal law requires both Howard and Zulewski to serve at least eighty-five percent of their prison terms before release. After completing their sentences in prison they will each be subject to one year of supervision by the U.S. Probation Office.
The sentencing announcement came jointly from Paul McCaffrey (First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky), William J. Hannah (Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General’s Chicago Field Office), and Olivia Olson (Special Agent in Charge at FBI Louisville Field Office).
Investigations into Howard’s actions were led by DOJ-OIG together with the FBI; Zulewski’s case was investigated solely by DOJ-OIG. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
