Armando Moronta, Bribery, New York 2016

Armando Moronta, a 38-year-old federal correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, and Alicia Alonso, the 31-year-old girlfriend of an inmate, have been charged with carrying out a bribery scheme to bring contraband into the MDC for inmates.

The charges were announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ronald G. Gardella, Special Agent in Charge, United States Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.

As set forth in the complaint, Alonso provided Moronta with contraband, including cellular telephones, the narcotic Suboxone, and the synthetic narcotic “K2,” together with thousands of dollars in bribe payments. Moronta, using his position as a federal correctional officer, then smuggled the contraband into the MDC on approximately twelve occasions between March 2016 and December 2016 and distributed it to inmates under his guard for their use and further distribution.

“As alleged in the complaint, Moronta abused his position of trust as a federal correctional officer thereby compromising a vital component of our criminal justice system and potentially endangering the safety and well-being of other MDC employees and inmates. Such reckless and illegal acts will not be tolerated. Those who commit, or assist others in committing, these crimes will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” stated United States Attorney Capers.

The charges against Moronta and Alonso are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Trowel, Nadia Shihata, and Andrew C. Gilman are in charge of the prosecution.

The defendants’ initial appearances are scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go at the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.

Defendant:

Armando Moronta, Alicia Alonso

Age:

38, 31

City and State:

Brooklyn, New York, Woodbridge, New Jersey

Exact Date:

March 2016 - December 2016

Sentence or Outcome:

Maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment

Exact Criminal Charges:

Bribery

Dollar Amounts:

Thousands of dollars in bribe payments

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/federal-correctional-officer-and-girlfriend-inmate-charged-bribery