Former Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison for Engaging in Sexual Conduct with an Inmate

Former Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Damon Coleman was sentenced to prison today for engaging in sexual conduct with an inmate under his custodial authority while Coleman was working at the Federal Detention Center (“FDC”) in downtown Miami.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Robert Bourbon, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

Coleman previously pled guilty to sexual abuse of a ward, specifically, a Federal inmate in custody at the FDC-Miami, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2243(b).  United States District Court Judge Robert N. Scola sentenced Coleman to 8 months’ imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release, which will include 8 months of home detention in addition to the term of incarceration.

According to the court record and statements made in open court at the change of plea and sentencing hearings, in June 2016, Coleman engaged in sexual conduct with a female Federal prisoner held at the FDC while awaiting her sentencing.  Coleman, and the inmate who was under his custodial authority, engaged in sexual intercourse, violating Section 2243(b), which prohibits any sexual-type conduct between prison officials and inmates.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Breezye Telfair and Senior Litigation Counsel Edward Stamm.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.