Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, New York City correction officer Krystle Burrell pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting that she accepted nearly $10,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island. On August 16, 2022, New York City correction officer Katrina Patterson pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting that she accepted more than $34,000 in bribe payments in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island. Burrell and Patterson are employed by the New York City Department of Corrections (DOC). Burrell’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, and Patterson’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty pleas.

“The defendants threw in their lot with Bloods gang members and betrayed their sworn duty to maintain the safety of incarcerated individuals and other correction officers at Rikers Island by smuggling cell phones and drugs into the jail,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out corruption at Rikers Island.”

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E....

Read Full Story: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/two-new-york-city-correction-officers-pl...