WAYCROSS, GA – Another badge tarnished. Former correctional officer Mathew Stone, 28, of Kingsland, Georgia, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 18 months for shaking down inmates at the D. Ray James Correctional Institution in Folkston. Chief U. S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood handed down the sentence, a clear signal that such betrayals of public trust won’t be tolerated.
The fall of Stone began with a simple, dirty exchange: $1,100 in bribes for smuggling cellphones, tobacco, and other contraband into the privately-operated facility, which houses federal inmates under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Court documents reveal the scheme unfolded in 2015, with Stone repeatedly accepting cash in exchange for turning a blind eye – and an open hand – to illicit goods.
“This officer betrayed the public’s trust by using his official position to commit criminal acts,” stated Acting United States Attorney James Durham, delivering a standard but pointed rebuke. “This U. S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those public officials who abuse the public’s trust for their own greedy purposes.” Durham’s office clearly views this as a pattern, not an isolated incident.
Federal investigators aren’t just focused on Stone. Robert A. Bourbon, Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, emphasized the broader issue. “This defendant joins a growing list of correctional officers across the United States who have been convicted in recent years for accepting bribes to help smuggle contraband into the federal prison system,” Bourbon said. “This kind of crime not only threatens the safety of other correctional officers, and inmates, it corrupts a system designed to rehabilitate inmates and educate them about the benefits of following the law.”
The investigation was spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, highlighting the agency’s commitment to rooting out corruption within the federal prison system. Assistant U. S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing of Stone. The OIG’s work often remains unseen, but it’s the quiet force keeping the system from complete collapse.
Anyone with information regarding corruption within federal correctional facilities is encouraged to contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 201-2522. This case serves as a grim reminder: the walls of a prison aren’t just about keeping inmates *in*; they’re about keeping corruption *out*. And when those walls are breached from the inside, the consequences must be severe.
Related Federal Cases
- Georgia Lawyer Gets 18 Months for Jan. 6 Riot · Washington
- Albany Banker Bribed: Jordan Gets 15 Months · Georgia
- Bent Guard Drakes Gets 2 Years for Cell Phone Smuggling · Georgia
- Georgia Poll Worker Gets 20 Months for Bomb Threat · Georgia
- Mississippi Man Pays $100,000 in Bribes to Military Base Officials · Mississippi
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption