TAMPA, Fla. — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday announced multiple indictments for bribery offenses and drug-related charges involving correctional officers and inmates at the Citrus County Detention Facility.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said on Monday the facility is a private jail where federal inmates are held in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.
Several correctional officers were named in the indictments on March 30, including Justin Harvey, a correctional officer, who is accused of smuggling a cell phone into the facility for a $4,000 payment. A second correctional officer, Dekarri Nixon, is accused of meeting with another person outside of the jail to accept a $4,000 payment to introduce a cell phone into the facility, the U.S. Attorney said.
Another indictment said Courtney Smith, a commissary worker, and Josuha Gallimore, a federal inmate, worked together to introduce contraband into the facility. Smith is accused of receiving at least $5,700 in bribes from Gallimore and his associates, the indictment said.
Nicole Knecht, a nurse for the facility, worked with Ashley Fraccalvieri, a former correctional officer at the jail, to smuggle in controlled substances, according to the indictment. Fraccalvieri is accused of being stopped by law enforcement with over 400 oxycodone pills on its way to the facility.
The U.S. Attorney said Harvey's, Nixon's, and Smith's charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Gallimore is charged with conspiracy to bribe a public official. He faces a maximum penalty of five years.
Knecht and Fraccalvieri face a maximum penalty of 20 years.
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