Crossroads Corruption: ACS Staff Bribed to Smuggle Contraband

BROOKLYN, NY – Five current and former employees of the Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn, are facing federal charges today after being accused of a brazen bribery scheme to smuggle contraband into the facility. Da’Vante Bolton, Roger Francis, Christopher Craig, Nigel King, and Octavia Napier, all previously or currently employed as Youth Development Specialists by the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), were arrested this morning and are expected to appear in federal court this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo.

The charges, unsealed today by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, allege the five conspired to violate the Travel Act by accepting bribes in exchange for introducing weapons, narcotics, and other prohibited items into Crossroads. The juvenile center houses approximately 120 residents aged 14 to 20, all of whom are legally barred from possessing contraband like cell phones, drugs, blades, and alcohol. The revelation of systemic corruption within a facility meant to rehabilitate troubled youth is a damning indictment of the individuals involved and the oversight that failed to prevent it.

“As alleged, these so-called ‘Youth Development Specialists’ violated their duty to the City and the residents at Crossroads by smuggling in weapons, drugs, and other contraband in exchange for bribes, placing young people and other staff members at an alarming risk of serious harm,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Today’s arrests demonstrate that this Office remains committed to rooting out corruption and cleaning up our city’s jails and juvenile detention facilities.” The investigation revealed a shocking volume of contraband already recovered from the facility between March 2022 and May 2024: at least 75 cell phones and over 340 scalpels or blades, along with narcotics and tobacco.

According to authorities, the defendants abused their positions – essentially functioning as correction officers within the juvenile setting – to profit from the vulnerability of those in their care. DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber emphasized the betrayal of trust, stating, “They betrayed that trust when, as charged, they accepted cash payments in exchange for smuggling drugs, weapons, and other contraband, into the Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn, destabilizing the facility and increasing the risk of violence to residents and staff alike.” ACS is supposed to conduct security screenings of staff entering the facility, but clearly, these measures were insufficient to prevent the influx of dangerous items.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge James Smith underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “Youth development specialists are entrusted to help troubled youth get back on the right path, instead these individuals allegedly strayed themselves, placing personal gain above the safety and rehabilitation of the juveniles under their watch.” While details of the specific bribes and contraband exchanged remain under seal, the breadth of the investigation suggests a widespread and sustained pattern of corruption. The FBI’s continued dedication to eradicating public corruption is on full display with these arrests.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), and the FBI. The full extent of the damage caused by this alleged scheme – the potential for violence, the erosion of trust, and the undermining of the facility’s mission – is still being assessed. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available. The defendants, Da’Vante Bolton, Roger Francis, Christopher Craig, Nigel King, and Octavia Napier, now face the consequences of their alleged actions, with the potential for significant prison time if convicted of conspiracy to commit Travel Act bribery.