WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania – In a shocking case of prison security breach, former inmate John Alexander Townsend, 41, was sentenced to one month in prison for possessing a cellphone in the Low Security Correctional Institution, Allenwood.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the incident occurred on May 10, 2021, when a corrections officer’s metal detector alerted on Townsend. Staff then searched Townsend and found a Samsung cellphone and charger hidden in a pocket stitched on the inside of Townsend’s prison uniform.
Federal law prohibits inmates from possessing cellphones due to the institutional security risks posed by their use.
Townsend also lost 54 days of good time and spent 30 days in disciplinary segregation for possessing the cellphone. His original sentence for a series of armed robberies in Philadelphia was 186 months.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
Townsend’s sentence serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences of attempting to breach prison security. His actions put himself and others at risk, and he will now face the consequences.
This case highlights the importance of maintaining strict security measures within our prison system.
Defendant: John Alexander Townsend
Criminal Charges: Possessing a Cellphone in Prison
City and State: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Exact Date: May 10, 2021
Sentence or Outcome: 1 month consecutive to 186-month prison term
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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