Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced criminal charges against 25 defendants in 12 separate cases relating to violence and contraband smuggling at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal jail in Sunset Park.
The charges against 15 inmates include for violent assaults against other inmates; for orchestrating a contraband smuggling operation; for smuggling ceramic scalpels into the facility; and for possession of contraband and continuing to commit fraud while detained at MDC-Brooklyn, according to a press release.
There was also a charge filed against a former correctional officer for attempting to smuggle contraband into the facility and against an MS-13 gang associate for attempting to smuggle a large package of contraband, including 18 cellphones and marijuana, to other MS-13 gang members incarcerated at MDC-Brooklyn.
"These charges serve as a warning to those who would engage in criminal conduct behind bars, and anyone else who facilitates those crimes: your conduct will be uncovered, and you will be held accountable," said United States Attorney John J. Durham.
