Abdul Robinson, 39, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, admitted in federal court today to trafficking contraband into one of the territory’s most troubled lockups — delivering a cellular telephone to an inmate at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility in exchange for $100.
The transaction, which took place on April 5, 2013, was no ordinary bribe. Robinson, then a sworn correction officer, accepted the cash and phone from an undercover agent and personally handed the device to an inmate — who was, in fact, a government informant. His actions violated federal law and the most basic tenets of prison security.
Robinson pleaded guilty to two charges: providing contraband in prison and conflict of interest. The first carries a maximum of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The second, more severe charge, triggers a mandatory minimum of one year behind bars, up to five years, plus a $5,000 fine.
Federal prosecutors painted a damning picture of betrayal. Correction officers are entrusted to uphold order and safety inside prison walls. Instead, Robinson exploited that trust, turning his badge into a tool for smuggling. The introduction of cellphones into prisons enables inmates to coordinate drug deals, threaten witnesses, and run criminal operations from behind bars.
The case was spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Their joint investigation peeled back layers of misconduct within the Golden Grove facility, revealing vulnerabilities that insiders like Robinson were all too willing to exploit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr. is handling the prosecution.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2017. When he returns to court, Robinson won’t be walking out in a uniform. He’ll be facing a judge who has the power to strip him of his freedom — the same freedom he compromised the day he took $100 to arm a prisoner with a phone.
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Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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