Bribery at Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn continues to plague the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), with one more guilty plea.
Da’Vante Bolton, a Youth Development Specialist at Crossroads, admitted to smuggling contraband into the facility in exchange for illegal payments. The 30-year-old Bolton, who has been employed by ACS since March 2020, accepted more than $20,000 in bribes from Crossroads residents or their associates.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bolton’s actions put the safety and security of residents and co-workers at Crossroads in jeopardy. ‘These defendants prioritized their own financial interests above the safety and security of residents and co-workers at the Crossroads Juvenile Center, giving dangerous contraband to juveniles in their care in exchange for bribes,’ stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
Bolton faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment when sentenced. The charges stem from an investigation by the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Crossroads Juvenile Center, located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, houses approximately 120 residents, ranging in age from 14 to 20. Residents are prohibited from possessing any contraband, including narcotics, cellular telephones, cigarettes, weapons, and alcohol. Despite these restrictions, a significant amount of contraband has recently been recovered from Crossroads residents, including at least 75 cell phones and more than 340 scalpels or blades between March 2022 and May 2024.
The guilty plea by Bolton brings the total number of ACS employees to plead guilty in connection with the bribery scheme to four. Christopher Craig, Nigel King, and Octavia Napier, all Youth Development Specialists at Crossroads, pleaded guilty to Travel Act bribery charges in September 2024.
The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to rooting out corruption in New York City’s juvenile detention facilities.
Defendant: Da’Vante Bolton
Criminal Charges: Accepting bribes to smuggle contraband into a juvenile detention facility
City and State: New York, NY
Exact Date: Ongoing
Sentence: Maximum 10 years’ imprisonment
Dollar Amount: Over $20,000 in bribes received
Related Federal Cases
- Perry Joyner, Bribery and Attempted Assault, New York 2020 · New York
- Thomas David Carruth, Bribery, Obstruction of Justice, Honest Services Wire Fraud, Arkansas 2023 · Arkansas
- Anthony Sabaini, Bribery, Tax Evasion, Structuring Financial Transactions, Theft, Illinois 2023 · Arkansas
- Edward Mullins, Embezzlement, New York 2023 · New York
- Maximiliano Davila Perez, Running Cartel Operations, New York NY, 2024 · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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