Former Federal Prison Chaplain Sentenced for Bribery and Smuggling Tobacco
BEAUMONT, Texas – In a shocking turn of events, Eric S. Patrick, a 43-year-old federal prison chaplain, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for bribery and smuggling tobacco into the US Penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas.
Patrick, a resident of Nederland, Texas, pleaded guilty on January 19, 2017, to bribery of a public official and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield on [undisclosed date] in the Eastern District of Texas.
According to court documents, in July 2015, investigators seized two gallon bags of tobacco and rolling papers from inmates at the prison, revealing a scheme in which Patrick was smuggling tobacco and cigarettes into the prison for inmates.
As part of the scheme, Patrick set up several scam post office boxes and charged inmates $1,500 in each instance to facilitate the smuggling.
The case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft handling the prosecution.
The brazen scheme has left many questioning the integrity of the prison system and the role of chaplains in maintaining order and providing support to inmates.
As Patrick begins his sentence, the community is left to wonder how a person of faith could engage in such egregious behavior, and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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