13 officers indicted: Baltimore prison officers on gang payroll?
13 corrections officers and 12 gang members were indicted with conspiracy, drug possession and distribution, and money laundering.
A poster displayed at the U.S. Attorney's office shows how investigators allege a prison gang arranged for contraband to be delivered to gang members behind bars. Federal prosecutors announced the indictment of gang members and 13 corrections officers on Tuesday.
Alex Dominguez / AP
BALTIMORE
Federal prosecutors have charged 25 people, including corrections officers, with scheming to smuggle drugs and cell phones into Baltimore's jail.
An indictment unsealed Tuesday claims that the Black Guerilla Family gang ran the scheme from inside the Baltimore City Detention Center and charges gang members and corrections officers with conspiracy, drug possession and distribution, and money laundering.
Gang members allegedly arranged to smuggle drugs, cell phones and other contraband into the jail and related prison facilities with the help of corrupt corrections officers. Prosecutors say gang members used contraband cell phones to arrange the drug smuggling and sexual encounters as well as warn of investigations and order assaults and murders.
The drugs brought into the prison included marijuana, Oxycodone, Xanax, Klonopin, and Vicodin.