Federal Detainee Charged with Illegally Possessing a Cell Phone in Prison

PITTSBURGH, PA – An inmate of Butler County Prison, located in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on a charge of possessing contraband while in prison, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The one-count Indictment named William Kelly Penn, age 36, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, on February 20, 2021, Penn, a federal detainee at Butler County Prison, possessed a cell phone while in custody, a prohibited object for inmates.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than one year in prison, a fine not to exceed $100,000.00, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Risacher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.