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At least two DOC officers were arrested this week.
By Forum Staff
Two criminal complaints were unsealed Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court charging six defendants with conspiring to bribe correction officers employed by the City Department of Corrections (DOC) as part of contraband-smuggling conspiracies. Correction Officers Krystle Burrell and Katrina Patterson (of Jamaica), as well as Ashley Medina, Imani Matthews and Terrae Hinds were arrested Tuesday. Defendant Michael Ross is currently in State custody.
Homeland Security Investigations, City Department of Investigations and the NYPD have been investigating contraband smuggling rings involving the payment of bribes to City Department of Correction officers in exchange for smuggling contraband, including unauthorized cell phones and narcotics, to Bloods gang members on Rikers Island.
As alleged in one complaint, City Correction Officer Katrina Patterson accepted at least $34,090 in bribes from Ashley Medina and Imani Matthews on behalf of Michael Ross in exchange for Patterson smuggling contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island for Ross. Ross, who was incarcerated on unrelated offenses, arranged for the bribes to be sent to Patterson. DOC subsequently located narcotics and cell phones in Ross’ cell. In addition to obtaining surveillance video from Rikers Island showing Patterson bringing unauthorized items to Ross, law enforcement also seized Patterson’s text messages, including messages with Matthews where Matthews told Patterson that some of the contraband would be “4 black joints in 1 paper,” and Patterson responded, “it better be wrapped so many times I don’t want to smell it.” Patterson and Matthews also discussed the need to delete their text messages.
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“The flow of contraband into our jails is a serious problem which puts inmates, fellow officers and potentially the public at risk,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Peace.
As alleged in a separate complaint, City Correction Officer Krystle Burrell accepted bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Anna M. Kross Center on Rikers Island for Terrae Hinds, facilitating Hinds’ contraband smuggling business and permitting Hinds and others to violate DOC regulations. Hinds, who was incarcerated on unrelated offenses, arranged for approximately $9,780 in bribe payments to be sent to Burrell. In exchange, Burrell smuggled at least two unauthorized cell phones to Hinds, and also facilitated Hinds’ sale of narcotics and other contraband items at the Anna M. Kross Center.
“The defendants, public servants on the City’s payroll, allegedly smuggled contraband, including cell phones and drugs, to incarcerated gang members at Rikers Island. The flow of contraband into our jails is a serious problem which puts inmates, fellow officers and potentially the public at risk,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
