FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER SENTENCED TO PRISON

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jul 27 2017 2:08 PM

Montgomery: Today, Johntarance Henriquis McCray (23), a former Alabama Corrections Officer from Hope Hull, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for smuggling multiple drugs into a state correctional facility, announced A. Clark Morris, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.  At the time of the offense, McCray was a prison guard at Draper Correctional Facility in Elmore County. 

In addition to the four and half year prison sentence, McCray will also be subject to three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

In October 2015, McCray’s superiors at Draper received information that he was smuggling drugs into the prison.  When McCray reported for his shift on October 15, 2015, his supervising officers confronted and searched him.  During the search, they found two large bundles hidden in McCray’s underwear that contained six different controlled substances: crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, Xanax, and Suboxone.  When McCray’s vehicle was searched, officers found a duffle bag containing additional drugs, a loaded 9 mm handgun, and over $400 in cash. 

McCray had been with the Alabama Department of Corrections for approximately nine months before committing this crime.

“Correctional officers are there to maintain order and ensure prisoner safety,” stated Acting U.S Attorney Morris. “Corrupt guards who sneak drugs into prison are not only putting the safety of inmates at risk, they are also jeopardizing the safety of their fellow officers.  The U.S Attorney’s Office recognizes that most correctional officers serve with honor and integrity.  However, my office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute those that abuse their position.”

"Law enforcement has to be held to a higher standard,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Lasky.  “Our Department of Corrections partners are working hard to stop this kind of behavior and the FBI will use every resource available to assist in this struggle."

“The Alabama Department of Corrections is served by committed and dedicated law enforcement professionals who put their lives on the line each and every day while keeping the public safe, and it’s unfortunate that a small percentage choose to compromise their integrity for personal gain,” said Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn.  “Our partnership with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies is important to public safety, and we appreciate the assistance we received throughout the investigation.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alabama Department of Corrections Investigations and Intelligence Division investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Bodiford.

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