Janai Stephens Arrested

A Miami-Dade County woman has been arrested for providing contraband to a federal prisoner. Janai Chanel Stephens, 38, of Opa Locka, was taken into custody on a two-count indictment charging her with making a materially false statement or representation to a federal agency and providing contraband to a federal prisoner.

According to the indictment, on March 10, 2024, Stephens made a materially false statement to a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer regarding whether she was in possession of tobacco, which is a prohibited item, when she entered the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex. Afterwards, she provided the tobacco to an inmate at that prison facility.

The indictment, which was handed down by a federal grand jury on May 28, 2024, alleges that Stephens knowingly and intentionally provided the contraband to the inmate. If convicted, Stephens faces up to five years in federal prison.

This case is being prosecuted as part of a U.S. Department of Justice task force aimed at rooting out contraband and misconduct in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The task force was led by the BOP and the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

The investigation into Stephens’ activities was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the arrest and indictment of Stephens.

An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. The case against Stephens will proceed through the federal court system, where she will have the opportunity to defend herself against the charges.

The arrest and indictment of Janai Chanel Stephens serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat contraband and misconduct in federal prisons. The U.S. Department of Justice and its partner agencies are committed to ensuring the safety and security of federal prisons and the communities they serve.