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Prosecutors said on Friday that a Philadelphia prison guard, a prisoner and his girlfriend are each facing charges for participating in a plan to smuggle contraband to the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center.
Haneef Lawton, 33, is accused of coordinating with 35-year-old prisoner Kernard Murray to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into prison in exchange for bribes. Allegedly, Murray’s girlfriend Charene Stallings, 42 years old, purchased money from prisoners and accepted cash or peer-to-peer electronic transfers on CashApp.
Investigators said that in exchange for Lawton’s alleged smuggling assistance, Murray and Stallings gave prison guards more than $11,400.
According to prosecutors, the narcotics that entered the prison included Suboxone, and Stallings was allegedly found to have cocaine. The couple allegedly trafficked up to $69,000 in contraband to the prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Albiter Williams said: “The work of correctional personnel is difficult and often dangerous, but this is not an excuse for breaking the law and not selling them silent licenses. U.S. Attorneys The official office will not tolerate such wrongdoing.”
Lawton, Murray and Stalings were charged with conspiracy, bribery and drug-related crimes.
If convicted, Lawton and Murray will face the highest possible imprisonment of 45 years, three years in prison and a fine of 2 million US dollars. Except for the possible mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, 5 years in prison and fines related to the release of cocaine, Stalings will face the same penalty.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of the Interior of the Philadelphia Bureau of Prisons.
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