Deer Lodge Guard Martin Reap Busted for Prison Bribe Scheme

Deer Lodge correctional officer Martin Reap, 25, is headed to federal prison after admitting to a sordid scheme of smuggling contraband—drugs and tobacco—into Montana State Prison in exchange for cash bribes from inmates. The betrayal of his badge culminated in a 20-month federal sentence handed down Tuesday, October 2016, by U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon in Helena.

Reap, once entrusted with maintaining order behind bars, instead turned the prison yard into his personal black market. Using his access as a guard, he slipped prohibited substances to incarcerated individuals who paid him off, directly undermining institutional safety and state policy. The scheme unraveled under a sweeping probe led by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Montana Department of Corrections-Division of Investigations, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.

Montana State Prison Warden Leroy Kirkegard and his staff played a key role in exposing the corruption from within, working hand-in-glove with federal partners to gather evidence and dismantle the illicit operation. Their collaboration led to Reap’s arrest and conviction on federal bribery charges, a rare but necessary strike against public corruption in the penal system.

At sentencing, Reap was also hit with five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The penalty reflects the seriousness of an officer who violated his oath, placing personal greed over public safety. Federal prosecutors argued that such breaches erode the integrity of the entire corrections system.

“This is an important case aimed at rooting out public corruption and ensuring that correctional officers carry out their obligation to ensure the safety of the community, rather than seeking personal enrichment from those they are entrusted to guard,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Michael Cotter. “This investigation represents the best of interagency cooperation.”

The case was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thaggard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes. Authorities say the coordinated takedown sends a clear message: corruption behind bars will be met with full federal force.