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“When correction officers betray their oath to serve and protect, the public is put at risk and the entire law enforcement community is tarnished,” said City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “We have zero tolerance for such misconduct.”
By Forum Staff
On Tuesday, in Brooklyn federal court, former City Correction Officer Krystle Burrell pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting that she accepted nearly $10,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island.
On Aug. 16, former City CO Katrina Patterson pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting that she accepted more than $34,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island. Burrell and Patterson are employed by the City Department of Corrections (DOC).
According to court documents and facts presented at the guilty plea proceedings,
Patterson accepted at least $34,090 in bribes from co-conspirators on behalf of co-defendant
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The two former City COs have pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island.
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 personnel subsequently located narcotics and cell phones in Ross’s cell. Law enforcement also recovered Patterson’s text messages, including messages where a co-conspirator 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.”
Burrell accepted bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Anna M. Kross Center on the island for co-defendant 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.
When sentenced, Burrell faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment and Patterson faces up to five years’ imprisonment. Ross, who is a Bloods gang member, has also pleaded guilty to a bribery offense and is awaiting sentencing. Charges against Hinds remain pending.
