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Press Release

Federal Prison Employee Charged with Smuggling Phones into Prison and Making False Statements

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on July 18, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging ERIC WILLIAMS, 37, of Danbury, with one count of providing contraband in prison and one count of making false statements.

WILLIAMS was arrested this morning.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport, entered a plea of not guilty, and was released on a $50,000 bond.

As alleged in the indictment, WILLIAMS worked in the Food Service Department at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury (FCI Danbury).  On July 9, 2017, WILLIAMS attempted to smuggle four mobile phones and an electric beard trimmer into the prison by hiding the items in his hat as he entered the facility through the staff entrance.  When a corrections officer arrived at the staff entrance to screen WILLIAMS for admission into the facility, WILLIAMS abandoned the attempt and left his hat containing the contraband in the entrance area.  When a supervisory officer found the hat and asked WILLIAMS if it belonged to him, WILLIAMS denied that it was his hat.

If convicted of the charges, Williams faces a maximum term of imprisonment of six years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General with cooperation from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi M. Perry.

Updated July 22, 2018