Monroe Guard Bowden Sentenced for Prison Contraband Smuggling

Seattle, WA — A former correctional officer at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Washington was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a contraband smuggling ring. Michael W. Bowden, 31, of Everett, pleaded guilty last year to extortion under color of official right.

Bowden, who had access to the Twin Rivers Unit within the facility, admitted to accepting bribes of up to $1,000 to facilitate the illegal entry of items such as tobacco and methamphetamine. The scheme resulted in a 600% increase in drug positivity rates among inmates at the Twin Rivers Unit in 2016.

“You were in a position of trust and power, and it was abused,” U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones told Bowden during his sentencing hearing. U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the breach of public trust that comes with prison staff involvement in contraband operations.

Records indicate the Department of Corrections Intelligence Unit first sought the FBI’s involvement in December 2015. Through a combination of confidential sources and investigative work, agents confirmed Bowden was accepting bribes for contraband smuggling. On three occasions, the inmates who received the contraband turned it over to investigators.

Assistant Secretary Stephen Sinclair of the Washington Department of Corrections praised the U.S. Attorney’s office for their swift prosecution of Bowden. “Our correctional system prides itself on safety and security,” Sinclair stated, adding that incidents like this are rare among the thousands of officers working diligently in corrections facilities.

In a letter to the court, Superintendent Michael Obenland highlighted the dangers posed by contraband inside prisons. He cited an incident where an inmate died from a meth overdose shortly before Bowden’s involvement, illustrating the increased risk that comes with drug smuggling operations.