13 female state prison guards have been indicted on charges of federal racketeering after it was discovered that they were all aiding prisoners in drug trafficking and money laundering in Baltimore.
The guards used their position of power to help members of the Black Guerilla Family smuggle in contraband such as pills and cell phones, which they hid in their hair and underwear. But they didn’t just aid the gang in their illegal operations; some of them were carrying on relationships with the members. Reportedly, one inmate got four women pregnant.
“The inmates literally took over ‘the asylum,’ and the detention centers became safe havens for BGF,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt.
Prosecutors say that the conditions and staff of the prison system in Maryland is severely lacking and are blaming these incidents on a lack of control by those in charge, saying that procedures were not in place to prevent smuggling.
As of now, all 13 officers have been suspended and are facing termination, but many are wondering if these indictments will preclude a major–and much needed–change in the prison systems.
This isn’t the first time a female prison guard has been caught abusing her position; a woman in Brooklyn was recently brought up on charges after admitting she was pregnant by an alleged cop killer who was under her watch.