BROOKLYN, NY – A federal correctional officer and his girlfriend are facing serious charges today after being accused of running a bribery scheme to flood the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn with contraband. Armando Moronta, 38, of Brooklyn, and Alicia Alonso, 31, of Woodbridge, New Jersey, allegedly conspired to smuggle cell phones, the potent opioid Suboxone, and the synthetic cannabinoid “K2” into the facility in exchange for thousands of dollars.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed this morning in Eastern District federal court, Alonso provided Moronta with the illegal goods, while he, abusing his position of trust, bypassed security to deliver them to inmates between March 2016 and December 2016. The pair allegedly completed approximately twelve successful contraband runs, allowing inmates access to prohibited items and potentially fueling further criminal activity within the prison walls.
“As alleged in the complaint, Moronta abused his position of trust as a federal correctional officer thereby compromising a vital component of our criminal justice system and potentially endangering the safety and well-being of other MDC employees and inmates,” stated United States Attorney Robert L. Capers. “Such reckless and illegal acts will not be tolerated. Those who commit, or assist others in committing, these crimes will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Federal investigators were swift to condemn the alleged actions. Ronald G. Gardella, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, emphasized the severity of betraying public trust. “Whether you are a federal correctional officer, a police officer, or anyone else in a position of authority and public trust, you should know that we vigorously investigate all allegations of individuals betraying their oath of office, and we will bring you to justice.”
The FBI echoed those sentiments. “Smuggling drugs into a federal prison is not only illegal, it’s inherently dangerous and puts peoples’ lives at risk,” said William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office. “The fact that a corrections officer is alleged to have done so in exchange for money violates the oath he swore to uphold. His badge does not allow him special privilege, or put him above the law.”
Both Moronta and Alonso are scheduled to appear in court this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in federal prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Trowel, Nadia Shihata, and Andrew C. Gilman of the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Remember, the charges are allegations at this point, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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