U.S. Prison Supervisor Allegedly Shook Down Inmate to Do Business

A New York-based U.S. Bureau of Prisons supervisor has been indicted for soliciting bribes from an inmate, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District announced Oct. 15.

Joseph Frangiosa, who was a Plumbing Worker Supervisor at the Metropolitan Correctional Center since September 2003, was arrested last month. His indictment stated, "In June 2008, an inmate ... told law enforcement agents that in April 2008, Frangiosa began to pressure the inmate for money in exchange for certain favors."

Bribed to Relay Stock Tips

It continued, "After several conversations with the inmate, Frangiosa agreed to pass stock trade information along to the inmate's relative in exchange for money. The inmate provided Frangiosa with the telephone number of the relative."

In August, an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent spoke with Mr. Frangiosa on the phone, and the prison worker agreed to allow the inmate to make an unmonitored phone call from the jail in return for $1,000.

He later accepted an additional $1,000 from the agent on the assurance that the inmate could make the phone call and that Mr. Frangiosa would deliver Tylenol with codeine to the prisoner.

Mr. Frangiosa is charged with one count of bribery and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.