LEAVITTSBURG, Ohio -  A former maintenance worker at the Trumbull County Correctional Institution has been charged with trying to smuggle drugs and a cell phone into the facility in exchange for cash.

James Jackson, of Niles, faces one count of extortion, according to documents filed Wednesday in federal court.

Prosecutors allege that on or about Feb. 2, 2024, Jackson agreed to deliver two packages containing various drugs and a cell phone, along with SIM cards, to an inmate at the prison. In return, Jackson allegedly sought a $2,000 payment from the inmate's family member.

The documents list the drugs as 98 grams of methamphetamine, 208 grams of synthetic cannabinoid, and 33 grams of PCP, among other unnamed substances.

Jackson was employed as a maintenance worker at the Leavittsburg facility and had access to areas not open to the public, including inmate cells.  He also regularly interacted with inmates, according to a Bill of Information filed in the case.

A Bill of Information is a formal document filed by a prosecutor that outlines the criminal charges in a case. Unlike an indictment, it does not involve a grand jury and is often used when a defendant agrees to proceed without a grand jury review.

The charge was brought by the United States Attorney’s White Collar Crimes Unit.