A former federal correction officer employed by the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP) pleaded guilty to smuggling cell phone chargers into the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Sunset Park.
When sentenced, defendant Fabienne Osias faces up to one year in prison. Osias resigned from the BOP on August 23, 2024, according to a press release.
“The defendant abused her position of trust to smuggle cell phone chargers into the Metropolitan Detention Center,” said Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Contraband cell phones enable federal inmates to continue committing crimes even while they are in custody at the MDC, which endangers both the jail population and the community at large. This Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute acts of public corruption at the MDC at every level.”
On February 28, 2023, Osias attempted to provide to an inmate of the MDC the following prohibited devices: five Universal Serial Bus (USB) charging cubes and nine USB charging cables, which are utilized by users of commercial mobile phone services. The Cell Phone Contraband Act of 2010 prohibits the possession of cell phones in federal prisons by unauthorized persons, including inmates.
“Contraband, including cell phones, in prisons can be dangerous weapons. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice any Correctional Officer that violates their oath and smuggles contraband into federal prison facilities,” said Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Region (DOJ-OIG).
