It seems that up to 100 staff members (a number given to me by a US Probation Officer in Fresno, Ca.) were involved in a conspiracy to smuggle tobacco into the Oakdale FCI in Oakdale,La. Oakdale FCI is a non-smoking facility. They were selling they tobacco to the inmates for $4,000 per carton! Inmates would have parents, friends and relatives send the monies to the inmates or someone else to pay the smugglers (BOP STAFF!) then break down the cigarettes and sell some to other inmates to lessen their very expensive smoking habit.
A staff member was caught smuggling the tobacco in to the institution and immediately told on everyone, especially the inmates. This particular staff member resigned; however was not punished. I do not believe anything was done to the remaining staff involved.
For the inmates who bought the tobacco from the staff, it is a completely different story. All of them were taken off the yard, put in the hole, received sanctions (loss of good time, loss of phone privileges, loss of visitation privileges and transfers to high security prisons. Further, many of those people that sent money to the inmates have been questioned and threatened by the government.
Talk about entrapment! These inmates did not seek out staff to engage in this activity. It was a plot hatched by the people in charge. Then when it blew up the only ones punished were those entrapped.:angry:

And why am I not surprised?

As much as I believe...tobacco would be a hot item since it was banned, doing the math....I can't see many prisoners or the ones from the outside willing to support a habit that would cost:

$4000.00 per carton

$ 400.00 per pack

$ 20.00 per cigerette

I couldn't afford to support my habit at that cost...much less assist with a loved one inside!

Doing a news search on this I found nothiing. While some of it may be true, in parts.... the story would be more beliviable with out the huge mark up and this being your first post ... sorry, don't buy it bopbasher :)

Parts are true.

There were some staff (not nearly 100) caught up in this (no were close to 100). And as would be expected some inmates were caught up in this as well. This is working both ways - neither side is innocent in this. Cigaretts have become BIG BUCKS in prison since they've been banned. They are bigger that drugs. On average, the cost per carton ranges from $1500 to $2500. Used cigaretts (just the butts) are selling for $5 - $7 dollars a piece. It is becomming a hot issue within the BOP.

Greyghost,
Cigarettes being a "hot issue" is a good pun.
:)
Why doesn't the BOP distribute the patch and offer smoking cessation classes to inmates who abruptly have to quit smoking???
m.m.


Parts are true.

There were some staff (not nearly 100) caught up in this (no were close to 100). And as would be expected some inmates were caught up in this as well. This is working both ways - neither side is innocent in this. Cigaretts have become BIG BUCKS in prison since they've been banned. They are bigger that drugs. On average, the cost per carton ranges from $1500 to $2500. Used cigaretts (just the butts) are selling for $5 - $7 dollars a piece. It is becomming a hot issue within the BOP.

"Why doesn't the BOP distribute the patch and offer smoking cessation classes to inmates who abruptly have to quit smoking???
m.m."

That would cost money.

They can get the patch, but I think they have to purchase it on comissary.