CLEVELAND — A former employee at the Trumbull Correctional Institution pleaded guilty Monday to smuggling drugs and contraband into the facility in exchange for bribes, federal prosecutors announced.
James P. Jackson, 39, of Niles, Ohio, admitted to attempting to deliver two packages to an inmate at the Leavittsburg prison while working as a general maintenance worker. Jackson had previously served as a corrections officer at the same facility.
According to court documents, Jackson was in contact with the wife of an incarcerated man from 2022 through early 2024. The two exchanged text messages and phone calls before arranging to meet on Feb. 1, 2024. At that meeting, she gave Jackson two packages and paid him $1,000, with a promise of another $1,000 if he successfully delivered them to her husband.
The following day, Jackson attempted to bring the packages into the prison but was intercepted by law enforcement before entering.
The contents of the packages included 97.67 grams of methamphetamine, 207.63 grams of synthetic cannabinoid, 32.85 grams of PCP, various other controlled substances, a cellphone, and SIM cards.
On July 15, Jackson pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right for using his position to accept payment in exchange for transporting contraband. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.