Public Corruption Indictments Returned Against Three Former Correctional Officers for Bribery

BRUNSWICK, GA – United States Attorney R. Brian Tanner announced the return of federal indictments charging Tyre Holzendorf, age 27, of St. Mary’s, Georgia, Phillip Smith, age 37, of Kingsland, Georgia, and Glynn Allen Sea, age 29, of Reidsville, Georgia, with multiple counts of bribery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201.

In the indictments filed against Holzendorf, Smith and Sea, it is alleged that all three defendants were corrections officers at the D. Ray James Correctional Institution in Folkston, Georgia, and that each defendant accepted bribes in exchange for allowing inmates to smuggle contraband into the facility. 

Holzendorf and Smith are charged with two counts of bribery, while Sea is charged with three counts of bribery.  The maximum sentence for each count is fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a supervised release term of not more than three years.

All three defendants were arraigned on the indictments today before United States Magistrate Judge R. Stan Baker of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.   The indictments are only accusations and are not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the United States Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Assistant United States Attorney Brian T. Rafferty is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.