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Bribery Scheme Rocks Virginia Prison
Two former Bureau of Prisons correctional officers have been sentenced for their roles in a bribery scheme that allowed contraband to be introduced into the Federal Correctional Institution Petersburg in Virginia.
Stephen Taylor, 49, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Shanice Bullock, 28, of South Hill, were found guilty of accepting bribes from inmate Dontay Cox in exchange for bringing contraband into the prison. The scheme, which took place between 2015 and 2019, also involved other co-conspirators.
According to court documents, Cox, 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, ran a gambling operation and sold contraband, including Suboxone, marijuana, heroin, cigarettes, and cellular telephones, while incarcerated. In return for bribes, Taylor and Bullock permitted the introduction and distribution of the contraband items in the prison.
Taylor received at least $46,841 in bribe payments from individuals associated with Cox between October 2017 and April 2019. Bullock also received cash payments during this time. Cox pleaded guilty to bribery of public officials on March 22, 2021, and was sentenced to prison for his role in the scheme.
“Taylor and Bullock blatantly abused their positions of authority as federal correctional officers to enrich themselves at the expense of the public, the safety of the prison they were responsible for protecting, and the dedicated Bureau of Prison employees with whom they served,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Taylor was sentenced to 4 years in prison for solicitation and acceptance of bribes, while Bullock received 10 months in prison for the same charges. The FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General worked together to investigate the case.
The bribery scheme highlights the need for continued vigilance in maintaining the integrity of the justice system. As Acting U.S. Attorney Parekh noted, “We will not tolerate any criminal acts that are designed to corrupt or undermine the fair and impartial administration of justice.”
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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