New Leadership Addresses Bureau Of Prisons Employee Misconduct
It has been nearly 5 years since Associated Press journalists Michael Balsamo and Michael Sisak reported on the number of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees who had been arrested for criminal acts. The charges ranged from a warden indicted for sexual abuse, an associate warden charged with murder, guards taking cash to smuggle drugs and weapons, and supervisors stealing property such as tires and tractors. Even with that widely read piece and the subsequent congressional hearings, the BOP still has rogue employees who are hurting the agency.
As of May 4, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employed a total of 34,675 active staff members of which 12,332 were correctional officers and 22,152 in other position.
Closing of FCI Dublin
The BOP permanently closed the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin in April 2024 due to a combination of factors. One major reason was staffing shortages, but that was likely exacerbated by both the high cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area and the awful headlines of sexual assaults at the prison. Dublin had a troubled history with staff-on-inmate sexual abuse scandals, resulting in multiple officer convictions and numerous lawsuits from survivors. These issues ultimately led to the decision to close the facility, with inmates being transferred to other institutions.
The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to a historic $115.8 million settlement with 103 survivors of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin. The settlement, finalized in December 2024, marked the largest known payout by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for sexual abuse claims.
One would think such headlines would go a long way with employees to clean up their act. However, the BOP still has a corruption problem and that continues to hurt both inmates in their care and their fellow employees who are already suffering from poor morale.
Some Things Have Not Changed
According to federal judges, their sentences are meant to be a deterrent to others who may think of committing a criminal act. Within the BOP, they do extensive training, have detailed policies and a strict code of conduct. Combine that with negative headlines and one would think there would be only a few cases, but not so.
In January 2025, Angelo Stephen who worked at FCI Miami was charged for receiving fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster loans totaling approximately $60,000. Another corrections officer, Eshwar Mohabeer, at the same facility was sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds in the amount of $46,500.
Earlier this month, Michael Jefferson, a 42-year-old correctional officer at FDC Philadelphia, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a ward, and deprivation of rights under color of law. The charges stem from allegations that he sexually abused an inmate on July 6, 2024, using force and causing bodily injury. Jefferson has been suspended from his position, and if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Also this month, former BOP lieutenant Shronda Covington was sentenced to 12 months in prison for violating an inmate's civil rights. Prosecutors said Covington showed deliberate indifference to the inmate's serious medical needs, leading to the inmate suffering bodily injury over a 30-hour period, ultimately resulting in the inmate's death. Covington also lied to federal investigators about the incident. Covington's co-defendant, former BOP nurse Tonya Farley was sentenced to six months in prison.
Last week, former BOP employee Angela Crosland was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for bribery, money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine and suboxone, and filing false tax returns.
Corrections Is A Difficult Job
Being a corrections officer in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is a dangerous and stressful profession. Officers face risks of violence and physical injury from inmates, exposure to contraband and weapons, and high levels of mental stress due to the volatile prison environment. Overcrowding and staffing shortages increase the risks, while exposure to infectious diseases and psychological strain are common challenges. Officers are also targeted for retaliation by inmates and face social isolation due to long hours and remote locations. Overall, the job demands resilience to manage both physical and emotional risks.
'We come to work every day committed to doing things the right way,' McGlothin said, 'so when I see others who break the rules it demoralizes those of us who care, weakens the integrity of the Bureau, and puts everyone at risk.'
BOP Open To Lawsuits
I spoke with attorney Zach Newland who does federal criminal work and has also sued the BOP for negligence. Newland told me that he sees repeated instances of jailers abusing power which shows how much work there is to do the fix the BOP. Newland said, "I am hopeful that our leaders will take action to truly protect the least among us while they are in prison. Prison sentences alone are punishment for the crimes committed; no person should suffer abuse at the hands of their jailer too.'
BOP Response
The new BOP Director William K. Marshall who has only been the job a few weeks and must address a number of challenges at the BOP, including misconduct among its ranks. He sent the following statement for this article:
"Let me be clear: those who wear the Bureau of Prisons uniform are held to the highest standards. The men and women who show up every day, break their backs, and do the hard, honest work of corrections—they have my respect and are the backbone of the Bureau.
But those who abuse their position, who treat inmates or their fellow employees with anything less than the dignity and integrity I would expect my kids to be treated with, the type this profession demands—they are not BOP employees in my eyes. By their actions, they have forfeited that title. When someone crosses that line, they are no longer upholding our mission—they're undermining it.
I was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to lead this agency with strength and an unwavering commitment to accountability, transparency, and real criminal justice reform. That mission demands more than words—it demands action.
So, when I receive credible information that someone in this agency is engaging in misconduct—whether it's abuse, corruption, or a failure to uphold the standards we live by—I will act. I will use every authority, every tool, and every ounce of influence I have to ensure those individuals are held accountable—and will do so publicly to send a clear message—if you dishonor the uniform, you will be held accountable. Full stop.
The 99% of staff who are doing the right thing every single day deserve a Bureau that reflects their integrity, not one overshadowed by the misconduct of a few."
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