Jail Guards Charged With Smuggling iPods for Prisoners

By

Apple: forbidden fruit in prison. CC-licensed, thanks to 1Happysnapper on flickr.
Apple: forbidden fruit in prison. CC-licensed, thanks to 1Happysnapper on flickr.

Two guards in Washington, D.C. were arrested after allegedly smuggling in must-have items for prisoners — namely iPods, cell phones and chargers.

An inmate tipped off the FBI in October 2008 that corrections officers were getting contraband tech — along with the usual stuff like cigarettes —  for a price to prisoners.

Two male corrections officers and a female security guard were arrested this week for federal bribery charges on suspicion of accepting cash to smuggle cellphones and iPods. The men are now on administrative leave, the woman was released on personal recognizance.

An undercover FBI agent posing as the brother of an inmate bribed one of the men $300 to smuggle an iPod and charger inside the big house.

Why are iPods verboten in prison?

According to an email sent to Washington Post’s Crime Scene blog , Apple devices are so sought after they constitute a security hazard:

“Inmates may use the components of devices such as iPods to compromise security equipment within the correctional facility. In addition, such items are in high demand and may be stolen or used by inmates to gamble with others…this has the potential to trigger conflict, assaults and other violent behavior.”

Wonder if the playlist on the decoy iPod had “I Fought the Law” on it or some irony-free offerings…

Via Crime Scene

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.