RIKERS ISLAND — A Department of Correction Officer was indicted for smuggling marijuana and a cellphone to an inmate at Rikers Island, the Bronx District Attorney announced Tuesday.
Correction Officer Tessie Clifton, 53, developed a personal relationship with inmate Tyrone Williams, 26, and smuggled him contraband on numerous occasions, the complaint says.
She repeatedly brought him marijuana hidden in her sock and on May 8 smuggled him a cellphone by leaving it in a trash can in the housing area, according to Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark.
“These contraband items empower inmates, hinder Correction Officers from maintaining order and fuel lawlessness both inside and outside Rikers Island jails,” said Clarke in a statement.
Clifton and Williams are charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband, as well as second-degree promoting prison contraband and conspiracy, according to the DA's office.
Clifton is also charged with official misconduct and Williams with unlawful possession of marijuana.
If convicted of the top count, they could face up to seven years in prison.
A friend of Williams, Jessenia Fajardo, 35, was also charged. She gave the marijuana to Clifton, who then ferried it to Williams, according to the Bronx DA.
This is not the first time Williams, who pleaded guilty to attempted murder earlier this year, has been involved with accusations of luring correction officers into smuggling him contraband.
He already has one open case from March 2016 for marijuana smuggling, a spokesman for the Bronx DA told DNAinfo New York.
Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters said the charges were the latest to stem from an ongoing investigation into correction officers that revealed a drugs and weapons smuggling ring earlier this month.
“Today’s arrest, the 32nd of DOC staff since our investigation began, builds upon the takedown of an extensive criminal contraband network at AMKC earlier this month, and furthers DOI’s and the District Attorney’s concerted efforts to eliminate contraband and the violence it fuels in our city’s jails,” Peters said said in a statement.
The DOC responded to the new charges by saying it will do everything to keep contraband out of its facilities.
“The vast majority of Correction Officers perform their duties with the highest level of integrity and Commissioner [Joseph] Ponte has zero tolerance for those who don’t,” a statement from the DOC said.
“Commissioner Ponte has made clear that the department will take all appropriate steps to keep weapons, drugs and other contraband out of DOC facilities while respecting the rights of the hardworking men and women who serve in our city’s jails.”
