A metropolis Correction officer was indicted Wednesday for allegedly smuggling greater than $15,000 value of contraband – together with 200 cigarettes and a cellphone – into Rikers Island, prosecutors mentioned.
Kendell Felix, 37, is accused of accepting a $3,000 bribe from an outdoor individual in an effort to sneak the illicit gadgets into the jail advanced and distribute them to the inmates, in line with the Bronx District Lawyer’s Workplace and regulation enforcement sources.
The estimated worth of the contraband in jail is about $15,000, the DA’s Workplace mentioned.
Felix, who’s assigned to the North Infirmary Command, was arraigned earlier than Choose Shari Michels on the fees of third-degree bribe receiving, first-degree selling jail contraband, two counts of second-degree selling jail contraband, and official misconduct, prosecutors mentioned.
“Cigarettes are bought for $50 to $100 every in Rikers Island jails, making this contraband extraordinarily helpful, and a gasoline for violence,” Bronx DA Darcel Clark mentioned.
“The Correction Officer allegedly dedicated exercise that contributes to crime within the jail.”
Nobody else was arrested in connection to the scheme, the sources mentioned.
“This particular person put his personal pursuits above the security of the folks in custody, DOC workers, and guests,” Division of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie mentioned.
“Our jails develop into much less secure when correction officers settle for bribes to smuggle in contraband. We commend the Workplace of the Bronx District Lawyer for working with our division to make sure this particular person is dropped at justice.”
Division of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber slammed the officer for allegedly “supporting the illicit contraband commerce and undermining the security of his fellow correction officers who do their jobs with integrity, in addition to different individuals in custody.”
“I thank the Bronx County District Lawyer’s Workplace for its partnership on this investigation and the Division of Correction for its cooperation.”
Felix is due again in court docket on Dec. 4, prosecutors mentioned.
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