Two State Correctional Officers Arrested for Smuggling Drugs and Cell Phones Into The J.T. Vaughn Correctional Center

WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, today announced that two State correctional officers, Thomas Nadill Boyce, Jr., age 46, and Paul Hursey, age 46, each of Dover, Delaware, have been arrested on separate federal criminal complaints, each charging the smuggling of drugs and cell phones to inmates, in return for bribes, at the J.T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware.

The two defendants made initial appearances today before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge and were released on bail.  Each criminal complaint charges a violation of extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

This joint investigation also resulted the filing of a criminal complaint, on December 3, 2015, against Correction Officer Lorraine Y.  Mosley, who was charged with smuggling a cell phone into the Delores Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, in New Castle, to an inmate in return for a bribe.

Commissioner Robert M. Coupe stated, “Unfortunately, contraband, to include drugs and cell phones, is successfully smuggled into DOC facilities and such criminal behavior puts the safety of our staff, inmates, and visitors to our facilities at risk.  Such actions violate the public’s trust, undermine the credibility of our department, and damage the integrity of our profession.  We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the DOC for leading the investigation which resulted in the arrest of these employees.”

This matter resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and investigators from the Delaware Department of Correction.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Edmond Falgowski, District of Delaware.

The charges in the criminal complaints are only allegations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.