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Press Release

Former SCDC Corrections Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Contraband into Corrections Facility

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that former South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Officer Joshua Cave, 30, of Allendale, South Carolina, was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of probation after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud.

          Evidence presented to the court showed that SCDC inmates paid Cave bribes in exchange for smuggling alcohol into Allendale Correctional Institute. Evidence showed that Cave received at least ten bribes amounting to over one thousand dollars.

          United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia sentenced Cave to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of probation, to be followed by a 2-year term of court-ordered supervision. 

          “We are grateful for the women and men at the South Carolina Department of Corrections who put on their uniform every day and work hard to protect inmates, prison staff, and the general public,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon.  “But this case should serve as a warning to those employees who would violate the public trust by smuggling contraband into our corrections facilities:  If you bring contraband into our prisons, you will end up in prison.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to stand with SCDC as we root out corruption in our prison system.”

          “We will pursue prison time for any correctional officer or staff member who brings contraband into an SCDC institution,” S.C. Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said.  “A correctional officer holds a position of public trust.  If he or she violates that trust, it puts fellow officers, staff, inmates, and the public at risk.  This kind of conduct will not be tolerated.”

          Cave is one of 19 former SCDC employees—including corrections officers, a nurse, and food service employees—indicted on federal charges related to accepting bribes and bringing contraband into South Carolina prisons.  Defendants Douglas Hawkins, Shatara Wilson, and Shakeel Malik Monroe have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud and await sentencing. 

          The case was investigated by The Federal Bureau of Investigation and South Carolina Department of Corrections Police Services.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Camden Lewis of the Columbia office.

Contact

Lance Crick
First Assistant U.S. Attorney
lance.crick@usdoj.gov
(864) 282-2105

Updated April 19, 2019

Topic
Public Corruption