Indiana corrections officer sentenced for bribery and smuggling contraband to inmates
Prison security fence. Barbed wire security fence. Razor wire jail fence. Barrier border. Boundary security wall. Prison for arrest criminals or terrorists. Private area. Military zone concept.

Indiana Corrections Officer Sentenced for Bribery and Smuggling Contraband to Inmates

Posted by
1 min read
March 21, 2024

TERRE HAUTE, Indiana — Jordan Kelsheimer, a 25-year-old former corrections officer from Blanford, Indiana, has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes as a public official. The sentencing took place in the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, where Kelsheimer was previously employed by the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Court records reveal that Kelsheimer began smuggling tobacco into the federal prison in 2019, a violation of federal prison regulations prohibiting inmate use of such products. The discovery of eight packs of Newport cigarettes and a series of love letters from an inmate led to Kelsheimer’s admission of receiving $400 per carton from an inmate’s relative through CashApp, totaling $5,140 over 15 separate transactions.

Further investigations uncovered allegations of Kelsheimer engaging in inappropriate and intimate contact with an inmate, including kissing and other intimate activities, within the confines of the housing unit she was assigned to.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, emphasized the violation of public trust and the danger posed by Kelsheimer’s actions to both correctional staff and inmates. He reaffirmed the commitment of his office, along with the FBI and the DOJ Office of Inspector General, to address corruption and abuse within federal prisons.

The FBI and the Department of Justice- Office of Inspector General’s Chicago Field Office conducted the investigation leading to Kelsheimer’s sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. In addition to prison time, Judge Hanlon ordered Kelsheimer to undergo two years of supervised release and to pay a $500 fine. This case underscores the expectation of integrity and accountability for those in positions of authority within the corrections system.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss