Former FCI guard faces bribery charge

Suspect is accused of moving contraband for pay from inmates

TEXARKANA, Texas — A former correctional officer is accused of accepting bribes for moving contraband in exchange for payments from inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana.

A felony information filed Thursday charges James Thompson, age unavailable, with conspiracy to commit bribery from “on or before” August 2019 “through in or after” January 2020. Thompson allegedly accepted payments to smuggle contraband to inmates assigned to the facility.

Inmates allegedly arranged for Thompson to be paid on the outside for contraband he was carrying to offenders inside Texarkana’s federal prison.

“On or about Sept. 23, Oct. 15 and Nov. 10, 2019, James Thompson retrieved a package or envelope addressed to ‘Bobbe Brown’ at a post office box in Mount Pleasant, Texas; each package or envelope contained prison contraband or a bribe payment,” a felony information pending in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas states.

A notice of forfeiture in the information expresses the government’s intent to seize $2,200 in cash. The prosecution is also seeking a $15,000 judgment against Thompson meant to represent proceeds from the alleged bribery scheme.

A docket entry in the case notes that Thompson has entered into a plea agreement with the government. Thompson’s attorney of record is listed as Danny Cook of Texarkana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok is representing the government.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III and U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven. A date for Thompson to appear in court has not been scheduled.