Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Brandon R. Willis, 26, of Pineville, La., a former corrections officer at the U. S. Penitentiary, Pollock, La., pled guilty today to attempted introduction of contraband into prison.

Willis was charged in August 2011 in a 14-count federal indictment with providing prison contraband, bribery, attempting to possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, witness tampering, and mailing threatening communications. Willis provided tobacco, cell phones and drugs to prison inmates in exchange for cash and then threatened to cause bodily harm to the inmates to prevent them from telling law enforcement about the activity. He pled guilty today to attempting to introduce heroin and methamphetamine into the prison. Willis faces the statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Cowles, Jr.