Rakeem Baldwin, Possession of Contraband Cell Phones, North Carolina 2024

Raleigh, NC – In a shocking turn of events, six federal inmates have been charged with possession of contraband cell phones at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina.

According to an indictment, Rakeem Baldwin, Antoine Stanfield, Neshawn Howard, Alan Gutierrez, Shafter Manuel, and Ronito Gomez were each found to be in possession of a cell phone while housed at the Federal Medical Center, the Low Security Institution, and the Federal Prison Camp within the Butner Complex.

Antoine Stanfield, one of the defendants, was also charged with a second count of destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure.

If convicted, each inmate faces up to a year of imprisonment for possessing the cell phone, with Stanfield facing an additional statutory maximum of five years for destroying or removing property to prevent its seizure.

“Contraband cellphones in prison threaten the safety and security of the inmates and the institution as a whole,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley in a statement.

Thomas Scarantino, Complex Warden at FCC Butner, added, “I would like to thank the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina for their continued support in prosecuting these cases. I would also like to thank the legal team and staff at FCC Butner who have assisted with this case. I have zero tolerance for inmates introducing contraband into FCC Butner that puts the safety and security of staff and inmates at risk.”

The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigative staff are investigating the cases, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Brooks Storus and Merrill E. Ward are prosecuting the cases.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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