Former Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty To Bribery Charge

Earlier today, Jonathan Galicia, pled guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe as a public official.  The proceeding took place before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano.  At the time of the offense, Galicia was a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (MDC), and has since resigned from his position. 

The plea was announced by Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ronald G. Gardella, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office (DOJ OIG).

According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, in June 2016, while a correctional officer at the MDC, Galicia accepted a $3,700 bribe payment to smuggle an Apple iPhone into the MDC and provided the contraband phone to an inmate, who thereafter used the phone while incarcerated at the MDC.

 “Motivated by greed, Galicia abused his position of trust within the federal correctional system,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rohde.  “Introducing a smart phone into a federal detention center is a serious dereliction of duty, as it provides an opportunity for inmates to communicate with others on an unmonitored device in order to potentially continue criminal activity, obstruct justice and intimidate witnesses.” 

“When prison staff smuggles a cell phone into prison, they put their colleagues, inmates, and the community at risk,” stated DOJ OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Gardella.  “The OIG will continue to assist the Federal Bureau of Prisons in its efforts to stop contraband from entering federal prisons, and to catch and bring to justice any Justice Department employee involved in a smuggling scheme.”

 At sentencing, Galicia faces up to 15 years in prison, as well as forfeiture of $3,700 and a fine.

 The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Marisa Seifan and Nadia Shihata are in charge of the prosecution. 

The Defendant:
 

JONATHAN GALICIA

Age:  34

Bronx, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-321 (ENV)