Two Florida Residents Convicted On Bribery Charges

1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-7725 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs Specialist

Follow us on Twitter  @NDWVnews

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Two individuals entered pleas of guilty in United
States District Court in Clarksburg on July 30, 2013, before Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that:

JASON NOEL SQUIRES, age 28, and NIKOLE MONIQUE WATKINS, age 24, entered pleas of guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery of a Public Official and Bribery of a Public Official. Between January 1, 2012, and August 14, 2012, SQUIRES, a correctional officer at FCI Gilmer, smuggled tobacco into the prison on multiple occasions. SQUIRES provided the tobacco to inmates. In exchange, the inmates arranged to have contacts outside of the prison send money to WATKINS, who was the girlfriend of SQUIRES, via Western Union and Postal money grams. WATKINS was aware that SQUIRES was smuggling contraband to inmates. SQUIRES and WATKINS received approximately $40,000 for the tobacco that SQUIRES smuggled into the prison.

SQUIRES and WATKINS, who are free on bond pending sentencing, face up to 20 years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Special Investigative Services Unit at FCI Gilmer.