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Four Inmates Indicted for Possessing Contraband in Prison
A disturbing trend of prison violence has led to the indictment of four inmates at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex. The inmates, all convicted felons, have been charged with being a prisoner in possession of a weapon.
The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Josh Minkler, targets Robert B. Smith, 32, convicted of second-degree murder in the Western District of North Carolina; Orlando Garcia, Jr. 39, convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in the Southern District of Texas; Tony C. Hopkins, 53, convicted of possession of contraband in prison in the District of Colorado; and Timothy Gonzalez, 26, convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in the Northern District of Illinois.
According to the indictment, Smith allegedly possessed a padlock attached to the end of a lanyard, while Hopkins is accused of having a plastic knife. Garcia is alleged to have possessed a metal object, and Gonzalez is accused of having a lock attached to a sock.
Minkler emphasized the importance of protecting correctional officers, who face a high-risk job every day. ‘Correctional Officers at the BOP have an extremely dangerous job working with some of society’s most dangerous individuals,’ he said. ‘They do it professionally and without weapons to protect themselves. We owe it to them to hold federal inmates responsible for their illegal activity.’
All four defendants face up to five years imprisonment consecutive to their current sentence, according to Assistant United States Attorney James M. Warden, who is prosecuting the cases. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The United States Attorney’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy for inmates who possess weapons in the Bureau of Prisons. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting prisoner actions arising out of the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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