Prison Guard Gets 4 Years in Drug Smuggling Case
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A federal prison guard was sentenced Monday to four years and three months behind bars for smuggling cocaine and whiskey to a prisoner in exchange for $1,000. Willie Simmons, 30, of Inglewood had faced up to 55 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
Simmons pleaded guilty June 3 to two counts of bribery by a public official, two counts of providing contraband in a prison and one count of distributing cocaine. Until his arrest, Simmons was a guard at the downtown Metropolitan Detention Center, a holding facility for federal defendants awaiting trial.
The prisoner agreed to cooperate with authorities in a sting operation that ultimately led to Simmons’ indictment. The FBI taped Simmons’ calls as well as the cash transaction and his return to the detention center with the contraband items. When he entered his plea, Simmons expressed remorse for his actions.
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