TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A former correctional officer at the federal prison in Terre Haute will spend the next two and half years on the other side of the prison bars.
Leon Perry III, 43, of Linton, Ind., was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in federal prison, after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy.
“Correctional Officers are entrusted to keep the prison and inmates at the facility safe,” said United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler. “Perry not only violated the public’s trust for his own selfish greed, but also threatened the safety of prison employees, inmates and the Terre Haute community.”
Perry worked as a Reservation Patrol Officer at the Federal Prison Camp in Terre Haute, and had served as a correctional officer at the Bureau of Prisons for approximately 10 years. He was responsible for the security of the prison, which included patrolling the prison grounds to prevent and stop any escape attempts.
While employed at the Camp, Perry accepted bribes from inmates in the form of cash, prescription medication, and other items. In exchange, he allowed inmates to leave the prison grounds without permission from the Warden, to have sexual relations with their girlfriends, wives and other female acquaintances on prison grounds and at nearby hotels, and to smuggle contraband into the prison, including cellphones, controlled substances and alcohol, according to court records.
“This sentence sends a strong message that corruption by law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. These illegal actions undermine the public’s confidence in the majority of law enforcement officers who are trustworthy public servants,” said Special Agent in Charge Grant Mendenhall, FBI Indianapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to ensure that correctional officers who abuse their position are identified, investigated and prosecuted.”
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who
prosecuted this case for the government, Perry will serve two years’ supervised
release following his prison sentence.
