A federal jail worker in Massachusetts is accused of accepting greater than $90,000 in profit funds and a $50,000 property mortgage from an ultra-high web price inmate.
William Tidwell, 49, of Keene, N.H., a correctional counselor for the Bureau of Prisons assigned to Federal Medical Center Devens, has been charged with accepting funds from an inmate beneath his care, in violation of his duties as a public official.
Tidwell has additionally been charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with mendacity to a financial institution a few mortgage he acquired from the inmate’s enterprise affiliate, and forging the affiliate’s signature to help this false declare.
He has been employed by the Bureau of Prisons since 2000, and dealing at FMC Devens since 2008. Then in 2014, Tidwell started working as a correctional counselor at FMC Devens, so he was answerable for monitoring inmate work assignments, assigning inmate housing assignments, arranging inmate authorized calls and coordinating jail visits for inmates.
One of the inmates for whom Tidwell served as a correctional counselor was Individual 1 — an ultra-high web price particular person who had been convicted on federal prices in one other jurisdiction. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that in 2018, Individual 1 directed a detailed buddy and enterprise affiliate (Individual 2) to wire $25,000 to Tidwell’s shut member of the family.
Then a 12 months later, Individual 1 directed hundreds of {dollars} to Tidwell as a part of a property administration settlement — which used Individual 2 because the conduit by means of which funds have been made to Tidwell.
In whole, between 2019 and 2020, Tidwell allegedly acquired greater than $65,000 in advantages as a part of this property administration settlement with Individuals 1 and a pair of.
Separately, Tidwell in 2020 allegedly tried to purchase a house. In reference to searching for financing for the house buy, Tidwell allegedly acquired a $50,000 mortgage from Individual 2.
Tidwell can be accused of creating false statements to the financial institution in connection along with his mortgage utility, falsely telling the financial institution that the $50,000 was a present from his employer. When the financial institution requested for written proof of this purported reward, Tidwell allegedly cast paperwork to help his earlier declare, together with by unlawfully utilizing Individual 2’s identify and handle, and forging Individual 2’s signature.
“Corrections officers are placed in a position of public trust,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. “The overwhelming majority of corrections officers perform their duties with integrity and professionalism. They know that accepting funds from an inmate — as is alleged towards Mr. Tidwell right here — is a severe violation of that belief and a betrayal of the BOP’s mission to take care of federal inmates in a protected and neutral method.
“This office is committed to holding public officials accountable when they exploit their power or official position to enrich themselves and compromise the public interest,” Levy added.
Tidwell was charged in federal court docket in Boston with receipt of funds by a public official in violation of his official duties, making false statements to a financial institution, and identification theft. Tidwell will seem in federal court docket at a later date.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”