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A Niles man has pleaded guilty for smuggling illicit substances and other items to an inmate while employed at a state prison.
Thirty-nine-year-old James Jackson, a corrections officer then maintenance worker, was employed by the Trumbull County Correctional Institution in Leavittsburg from the year 2022 to 2024.
His regular duties within the jobs gave him access to imates' cells and non-public areas where he could make contact with inmates.
Court documents report Jackson was allegedly speaking with an inmate's wife through phone messages and eventually agreed to meet in person.
On Feb. 1, 2024, the two met and the wife handed Jackson two packages for him to deliver to her husband who was inside the prison. In return, Jackson took an initial $1,000 bribe and was promised another $1,000 for a successful delivery.
On Feb. 2, Jackson was stopped by law enforcement before entering TCI with the packages.
Those packages contained various drugs, SIM cards and a cell phone.
An investigation found 98 grams of methamphetamine, 208 grams of synthetic cannabinoid and 33 grams of PCP, among other unnamed substances in the package Jackson was attempting to smuggle into the facility.
A federal district court judge could sentence Jackson up to 20 years in prison and owe up to $250,000 in fines.
A sentencing date has not been scheduled.