6 people accused of smuggling, accepting bribes at Rikers Island: court documents
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Six people have been charged with corruption at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced Wednesday.
Three former correction officers, one program counselor, a contractor, and an inmate are facing federal charges, according to court documents.
Former Rikers Island correction officer Carlos Rivera, 27, is accused of accepting bribes from an inmate and smuggling drugs like oxycodone and marijuana into the jail from December 2021 through February 2022, according to officials.
Rivera allegedly met with associates of a specific inmate in the Bronx. He then allegedly brought items such as cellphones, oxycodone, marijuana, and cigarettes into the jail while at times being paid through CashApp, according to court documents.
The inmate Rivera was accused of supplying contraband to had his jail cell searched around Dec. 22, 2021. A cellphone, cellphone charger, and a metal rod that was 6 inches long were found inside a pillowcase, according to court documents. The cellphone contained screenshots purportedly of an Instagram account belonging to Rivera that were sent to the inmate’s associate. Officials said they believe this is how Rivera and the inmate’s associate communicated.
Additional screenshots on the cellphone also purportedly showed the associate telling Rivera to pick up four packs of cigarettes and that he would provide Rivera with marijuana and rolling papers to bring into the jail, according to court documents.
Rivera accepted around $500 via CashApp to help smuggle the contraband into the jail, according to court documents. He was charged with the following:
Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics and controlled substances
“Rikers Island is less safe, for inmates and officers alike, when corrections officers and others in positions of public trust accept bribes to smuggle contraband. As alleged, the defendants in these cases engaged in corruption for their own enrichment. In our relentless pursuit of justice, we leave no stone unturned, especially within the confines of jails and prisons, where the safety and dignity of all individuals must be safeguarded. We will not tolerate any breach of trust or corruption that jeopardizes the well-being of inmates and staff,” Williams said.
Former correction officer Chantal De Los Santos, 30, former program counselor Shanequa Washington, 39, and former contractor Kenneth Webster, 42, are also accused of accepting bribes and smuggling items into Rikers Island, according to officials.
Officials said De Los Santos and Washington smuggled contraband into the jail in return for bribes starting around March 2022. De Los Santos allegedly gave Washington contraband to give it to an inmate at a DOC facility, according to court documents. Washington allegedly received payments of over $5,000 via CashApp.
Former Rikers Island program counselor Shanequa Washington, 39, allegedly providing an inmate with contraband, according to court documents. (Credit: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York) Former Rikers Island program counselor Shanequa Washington, 39, allegedly providing an inmate with contraband, according to court documents. (Credit: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York) Inmates allegedly passing out contraband, according to court documents. (Credit: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York) Former Rikers Island contractor Kenneth Webster allegedly bringing a backpack into an inmate’s cell, according to court documents. (Credit: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York) A picture of eight packs of cigarettes, a water bottle containing a clear liquid, and a stack of stained paper sheets, all on a surface that is consistent with an inmate bed, according to court documents. (Credit: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York)
De Los Santos and three inmates allegedly worked together to bribe Webster, according to court documents. One of the inmates requested De Los Santos give Webster cigarettes, alcohol, cellphones, electronic tablets, and paper sheets that officials believe were soaked in a controlled substance, per the court records.
Officials said De Los Santos participated between March and June 2022 and is charged with the following:
One count of conspiracy to commit bribery
Two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud
Washington participated from March through April 2022 and is charged with the following:
Conspiracy to commit bribery
Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud
Webster participated from May through June 2022 and is charged with:
Conspiracy to commit bribery
“These defendants allegedly abused their former positions within the Department of Corrections by accepting bribes from multiple inmates – including one charged along with them – to smuggle contraband, including illicit substances, into several jail facilities on Rikers Island. This alleged conspiracy permeated Rikers Island, polluting the integrity of the Department and its institutions while jeopardizing the trust in other officials with similar job roles,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith.
Former correction officer Stephanie Davila, 30, and inmate Kristopher Francisco, 29, exchanged bribes from July 2021 through August 2021, according to officials. Davila and Francisco also allegedly bribed another correction officer into smuggling items like fentanyl, marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids into the jail, officials said.
Davila collected over $5,000 in cash bribes, per court documents. Francisco also allegedly had Davila in his cellphone as “wifey.” Multiple pictures of Francisco on a video call with Davila and Francisco posing with contraband were allegedly found on a cellphone located in his cell, court documents showed.
Davila and Francisco are both charged with the following:
Conspiracy to commit bribery
Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics and controlled substances
Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.
Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.
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