February 3, 2009

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AT FCI ENGLEWOOD SENTENCED FOR ACCEPTING BRIBE TO INTRODUCE CONTRABAND INTO THE PRISON

DENVER – James D. Caban, age 48, of Northglenn, Colorado, a former federal prison correctional officer, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel to serve 12 months and 1 day in prison for accepting a bribe as a public official.  After serving his prison sentence, Caban must serve 1 year of supervised release.  Chief Judge Daniel ordered Caban to report to a facility designated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on or before April 6, 2009.

James D. Caban was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on June 2, 2008.  He pled guilty before Chief Judge Daniel on November 6, 2008.  He was sentenced by the Chief Judge on January 30, 2009.      

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, Caban was a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) in Englewood, Colorado.  The defendant introduced contraband inside the prison.  Specifically, Caban smuggled loose tobacco and rolling papers to an inmate in exchange for cash payments delivered to his home, and money orders mailed to his post office box.  He used a black duffle bag to smuggle the contraband into the prison. 

Each delivery consisted of 10 to 12 rolled up Ziploc bags containing the tobacco.  He delivered the packages by meeting the inmate in the staff office.  The inmate, in turn, concealed the bags inside his shirt and pants.  In total, Caban received over $5,000 during the course of the scheme.

During the sentencing Chief Judge Daniel read part of a letter written by FCI Englewood Warden Blake R. Davis to Fredrick Bach, Chief of the U.S. Probation Office in Colorado.  The letter said, in part, that “accepting bribes threatens the security of the institution and the safety of other inmates, staff, and the public.”  The letter goes on to read, “A staff member who accepts bribes is subject to extortion demands, and may be easily pressured to violate other prison rules.  As other inmates learn or suspect that such behavior is occurring, the inmate who is benefitting from the illegal activity may be subject to retaliation or pressure from other inmates seeking an advantage for themselves.”

This case was investigated by Special Agent Jeffrey W. Campbell of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.  The U.S. Bureau of Prisons also played an important role in this case.

Caban was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Paluch.

 

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