Former New York City Correction Officer Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Smuggling Contraband into Rikers Island

Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, former New York City correction officer Katrina Patterson was sentenced by United States District Judge Carol B. Amon to a year and a day in prison for accepting more than $34,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island.  Patterson was employed by the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) and worked as a correction officer at Rikers Island. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York Field Office (HSI), New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance on the case.

According to court documents and facts presented at today’s sentencing proceeding, Patterson accepted at least $34,090 in bribes from co-conspirators in exchange for Patterson’s smuggling contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island for inmate (and co-defendant) Michael Ross.  Ross, who was incarcerated on unrelated offenses, arranged for the bribes to be sent to Patterson.  DOC subsequently located narcotics and cell phones in Ross’ cell.  Law enforcement also recovered Patterson’s text messages, including messages where a co-conspirator told Patterson that some of the contraband would be “4 black joints in 1 paper,” and Patterson responded, “it better be wrapped so many times I don’t want to smell it.”  Patterson also discussed with her co-conspirator the need to delete their text messages. 

Ross previously pleaded guilty in July 2022 to bribing Patterson and was sentenced today by Judge Amon to 18 months’ imprisonment to run consecutive to the 16 years to life sentence he is serving in state custody for an unrelated conviction.

The government’s case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Pilmar in the Office’s Public Integrity Section.  

The Defendants:

KATRINA PATTERSON
Age:  32
Jamaica, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-196 (CBA)