Former BOP Employee Sentenced To Prison For Providing Contraband To USP-Marion Inmate And Lying To Federal Investigators

Renee D. Strauss, 42, of Marion, Illinois, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Benton to a term of four months in prison for providing contraband, including cellular telephones, to a USP-Marion inmate and then lying to federal investigators about her actions, announced Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Strauss previously pled guilty to a four-count information charging her with committing those offenses between June 2015 and September 27, 2015.

Information introduced to support the guilty pleas and sentence showed that at the time she provided the three cellular phones and other contraband to the inmate, Strauss was employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a case manager and correctional officer at USP-Marion. Strauss developed an improper sexual relationship with the inmate that led her to provide him with the contraband. BOP officials learned of Strauss’ misconduct and referred the matter to the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General for investigation. Strauss then lied to investigators in an effort to cover-up the fact that she provided the inmate with contraband.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Strauss was ordered to pay the United States fines and special assessments totaling $345 and was placed on a two year term of supervised release to follow her incarceration. As a part of her guilty plea, Strauss was also required to resign her employment with the BOP

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.