Shawn Brown, Bribery, California 2024

San Diego, CA - Shawn Brown, a 28-year-old inmate at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for bribing a corrections officer to smuggle contraband into the prison, including a custom-made bejeweled 'grill' for his mouth.

Brown was also sentenced to an additional 48 months in prison for his role in a scheme to file fraudulent claims with the California Employment Development Department, stealing money intended for economic relief during the pandemic. He was ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution to the State of California.

The scheme to acquire the custom grill, bribe the corrections officer, and smuggle contraband into the prison was valued at over $30,000. Brown's plea agreement revealed that he used a smuggled cell phone to order the grill from a jeweler in Houston, Texas.

Benito Jamar Hugie, the corrections officer who helped Brown obtain the grill, was sentenced last month to 24 months in prison. Hugie was ordered to surrender by May 6, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo ordered Brown to turn over the grill to the government as part of his forfeiture agreement. Brown had argued that he was unable to remove the grill because it was glued to his teeth, but a jail surveillance video showed that he was able to remove it.

The COVID-related fraud scheme was discovered during the investigation of the bribery scheme. Brown used his contraband cellular telephone to coordinate the theft of unemployment benefits intended for Californians who were unable to pay for food and housing as a result of the pandemic.

Brown was originally serving time at the state prison for first-degree murder in violation of California Penal Code Section 187(a). His sentences will be served consecutively to each other and to the original underlying state sentence.

“Diamonds are not always your friend,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes have cost Brown years of his life and Hugie his career and good name. Maybe regular teeth would have been a better option.”

The FBI and law enforcement partners remain committed to ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Brown is currently an inmate at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. His case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Orlando Gutierrez.

Summary of Charges: Corruption Activities Stemming from the Gri, Bribery, and Theft of Government Benefits.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/inmate-and-corrections-officer-sentenced-bribery-scheme-same-inmate-sentenced-related