U.S. Attorney: 6 defendants charged for corruption at Rikers Island

All six defendants currently face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if convicted.

Adolfo Carrion

Apr 9, 2024, 9:11 PM

Updated 21 days ago

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Five former Rikers Island employees and one inmate are now facing federal charges for their involvement in corruption at the jail.
According to criminal complaints unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, former Correction Officer Carlos Rivera accepted bribes from an inmate and smuggled oxycodone, marijuana and other contraband into the jail from December 2021 through February 2022.
Those same documents claim fellow former Correction Officer Chantal De Los Santos also accepted bribes from multiple inmates to smuggle contraband from March through June 2022.
Shanqeua Washington, a program counselor at the Department of Correction, is also accused of accepting bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband. The criminal complaint states that Washington worked with De Los Santos to smuggle contraband into the Anna M. Kross Center in March and April 2022.
Kenneth Webster, an employee of a contractor that worked with the jail facility, is believed to have worked alongside De Los Santos to accept bribes to smuggle contraband from May through June 2022.
Former Correction Officer Stephanie Davila and inmate Kristopher Francisco are also accusing of smuggling contraband. Court documents state that they bribed another correction officer to induce him to assist in smuggling contraband that included fentanyl, marijuana and a synthetic cannabis-like drug known as “K2.”
De Los Santos and Webster are both Bronx residents, and Washington and Davila are Brooklyn residents. All six defendants currently face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if convicted.
DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie released a statement saying:

There is zero-tolerance for anyone – staff or visitors - who attempts to bring contraband and narcotics into our jails. This illegal behavior endangers the lives of people in custody and our staff. The department is working diligently to improve security and prevent contraband from entering its facilities.



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