Bureau of Prisons Employee Arrested for Soliciting Bribes from Federal Inmate

MICHAEL J. GARCIA, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; and MARK J. MERSHON, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and JAMES E. TOMLINSON, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (“DOJ-OIG”) announced today the arrest of JOSEPH FRANGIOSA in connection with FRANGIOSA’s solicitation of bribes from a federal inmate. FRANGIOSA is a Bureau of Prisons employee who works at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (“MCC”) in New York, New York. According to the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:

Since September 2003, JOSEPH FRANGIOSA has been employed by the Bureau of Prisons (”BOP”) as a plumbing worker supervisor. In June 2008, an inmate, (the “Inmate”) told law enforcement agents that in April 2008, FRANGIOSA began to pressure the Inmate for money in exchange for certain favors. After several conversations with the Inmate, FRANGIOSA agreed to pass stock trade information along to a the Inmate’s relative in exchange for money. The Inmate provided FRANGIOSA with the telephone number of the relative.

In August 2008, law enforcement agents reviewed three voice mail messages left on the answering machine of the Inmate’s relative. All three voice mail messages were from FRANGIOSA who described himself in the messages as “a friend of [the Inmate.]” On the third message, FRANGIOSA told the Inmate’s relative that he had“spoken briefly with [the Inmate] about me coming out to meet you.”

Shortly after FRANGIOSA left the third voice mail message, an FBI undercover agent (“UC”) returned FRANGIOSA’s calls, posing as the Inmate’s relative. During the conversation, FRANGIOSA agreed to accept money in exchange for arranging the Inmate to make an unmonitored telephone call at the MCC. The UC and FRANGIOSA met at the Palisades Mall in Nyack, New York so that FRANGIOSA could receive the payment of $1000.

On August 18, 2008, FRANGIOSA, who was on medical leave from the MCC, again spoke by telephone with the UC, who was still posing as the Inmate’s relative. FRANGIOSA confirmed that the Inmate was able to make an unmonitored telephone call at the MCC with the assistance of a “friend” who was “working there” in exchange for another $1,000.

On August 21, 2008, FRANGIOSA and the UC met in person where the UC said that the Inmate was experiencing pain in his/her shoulder and asked FRANGIOSA if he could smuggle Tylenol with codeine to the Inmate. FRANGIOSA assured the UC that it would be “no problem” and also told the UC that the Inmate would be able to make a phone call the next day. Before the conversation ended, the UC provided FRANGIOSA with another $1,000.

FRANGIOSA, 41, is charged with one count of bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.

FRANGIOSA was arrested in Nyack, New York this afternoon and presented Manhattan federal court in New York, New York, before U.S. Magistrate Judge DEBRA FREEMAN.

Mr. GARCIA praised the work of the FBI, DOJ-OIG, and the BOP.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office's Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorney RUA M. KELLY is in charge of the prosecution.

The charge contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.