US Department of Justice
RIVERSIDE, California – A correctional officer at the United States Penitentiary in Victorville has been arrested on federal bribery charges for allegedly providing prisoners with tobacco, a substance which is banned in federal prisons.
Justin Morrow, 32, of Victorville, California, was arrested yesterday morning at the United States Penitentiary in Victorville by special agents with the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General. The arrest was pursuant to a 15-count indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on September 8.
The indictment accused Morrow of two counts of bribery by a public official. The indictment specifically alleges that Morrow provided tobacco to two inmates, who collectively paid Morrow approximately $10,500 for smuggling tobacco into the penitentiary. The indictment also alleges 13 misdemeanor counts of providing contraband to inmate during a six-month period in 2008.
Morrow was arraigned on the indictment yesterday afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.
Each charge of bribery of a public official carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Each charge of providing contraband to inmates carries a statutory maximum penalty of six months in prison.
The case against Morrow was investigated by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General with the assistance of the Bureau of Prisons.
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