Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of NY
Camera footage shows the defendant handing concealed packages to Albert and others inside the GRVC.
By Michael V. Cusenza
An indictment was unsealed Friday in federal court in Brooklyn charging Karin Robinson, a former City Correction officer with conspiracy to violate the Travel Act and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances to an inmate incarcerated at the George R. Vierno Center at Rikers Island (GRVC) between February and June 2019, according to prosecutors.
As set forth in the indictment and other court filings, Robinson, 29, was a New York City Department of Correction employee in 2019. Between February and June of 2019, the Queens resident received thousands of dollars in bribes from then-GRVC inmate James Albert. In exchange for the bribe payments, the defendant agreed to bring marijuana and other contraband into the GRVC for sale and distribution to other inmates.
“The evidence against the defendant is overwhelming,” federal prosecutors wrote in Robinson’s bond letter. “Among other things, Albert’s wife, who was charged alongside Albert and who testified at his trial pursuant to a deferred prosecution agreement, admitted to paying thousands of dollars to the defendant at Albert’s direction using the electronic money-transfer platform Cash App. Records obtained from Cash App corroborate her testimony. The government’s evidence also includes security camera footage showing the defendant handing concealed packages to Albert and others inside the GRVC, a recorded phone call between the defendant and Albert discussing the smuggling of contraband, and evidence of a meeting between the defendant and one of Albert’s outside associates responsible for delivering contraband to be smuggled into the GRVC. In addition, during subsequent interviews with law enforcement authorities, the defendant has admitted that she accepted bribes from Albert in exchange for smuggling marijuana and other contraband into the GRVC.”
If convicted, Robinson faces a maximum jail time of 10 years.
“The corruption of correction officers undermines the orderly running of the institution and endangers the safety of other incarcerated individuals and Department of Correction personnel,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “We will continue to prosecute those who enrich themselves instead of serving the public and work with our federal and local law enforcement partners to stop the flow of illegal narcotics and other contraband into correctional facilities.”
FBI New York Assistant Director-In-Charge Michael Driscoll added, “As alleged in this indictment, Robinson broke her oath of duty as a correction officer when she agreed to accept bribes and smuggle contraband into the prison system. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who betray the public trust by abusing their authority and bring them to justice as swiftly as possible.”
Albert was convicted last month of conspiracy to violate the Travel Act and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances while he was incarcerated at the GRVC as part of the scheme to bribe correction officers to smuggle marijuana, suboxone strips, and other contraband into the jail for sale to other inmates. The verdict followed a four-day trial before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. When sentenced, Albert faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
