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| Ex-jail guard sentenced to prison for bribery |
| By chicagotribune.com - Ellen Jean Hirst |
| Published: 10/14/2013 |
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Tony Henderson would park his older Mercedes-Benz in a public garage near the downtown federal jail where he worked and leave a back window cracked open a few inches. Federal authorities allege it was all part of a sophisticated bribery scheme devised by Henderson, a veteran guard at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Henderson instructed inmates to have their relatives drop envelopes of cash through the open window, according to court documents. In return he smuggled food and cigarettes into the institution. Over five months last year, he made $8,000 to $10,000, authorities said. On Monday, Henderson 52, of Portage, Ind., was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $5,000 for accepting bribes as a public official. He pleaded guilty in May to the federal charge. U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang said he took into account Henderson's 21 years in the military and previously clean criminal record. Henderson, a guard at the Loop jail for 16 years, had little to say Monday, but in an earlier court filing, he apologized for his misconduct. "I will work hard to make amends and try and regain the honor I lost," he wrote. According to court documents, authorities were tipped to the bribery scheme by "multiple inmates." The Department of Justice's inspector general's office started an investigation that quickly corroborated the inmates' claims. Henderson took bribes from at least five inmates before he was arrested in August 2012, authorities said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Parente told the judge that it didn't matter that Henderson didn't smuggle in more serious contraband such as drugs, guns or cellphones. "It's cigarettes and food, yes," Parente said. "But tobacco is (generally) forbidden in the MCC ... so it becomes a currency." Read More. |
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