Former Correctional Officer Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison

Ocala, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced Michael J. Garland (42, Lecanto) to two years in federal prison for bribery of a public official.  The court also ordered Garland to forfeit $4,200, which are traceable proceeds of the offense.  Garland pleaded guilty to the offense on February 28, 2014.

According to court documents, Garland worked as a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Medium in Sumter County, Florida.  On May 24, 2013, federal agents observed Garland on a video surveillance system as he met with an inmate at the federal prison.  When agents subsequently searched the inmate, they discovered contraband in the inmate’s waistband in the form of a cellular phone with accessories, a prepaid phone card, ten packs of cigarettes and snuff tobacco.  Agents immediately confronted Garland, who admitted that he had smuggled the items into the prison for the inmate.  In return for smuggling the contraband into the prison, the inmate had made cash payments to Garland through a third party in the amount of $4,200.  

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigations Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.