A jury delivered a guilty verdict against Tavian C. Steward, 22, for the offense of having a homemade weapon while incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Greenville, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Steward faced trial earlier this week, convicted on Tuesday, for a single count of possession of contraband in prison.

The incident leading to the conviction took place back on October 27, 2022, after correctional officers received a tip that Steward might be armed, harnessing a pat-down, officers found a handmade weapon secreted in the pocket of Steward’s jacket, following a lead provided to them. "Inmates in possession of weapons pose a significant threat to correctional officers, prison staff, and other inmates, and thanks to quick and efficient efforts by FCI-Greenville personnel, a dangerous situation was avoided," U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe was quoted in the official release.

The improvised weapon was described as a sharpened piece of metal, about 5.25 inches long, with a brown fabric handle, the FBI Springfield Field Office investigated with assistance from the FCI-Greenville staff. The verdict opens the door for Steward to potentially face up to a five-year extension on his current sentence, the penalty for having contraband in prison. The additional sentence would be consecutive to whatever time he is already serving.

Steward's sentencing is on the books for 10:30 a.m. on July 25 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, where he will learn how much more time he must spend behind bars, "Thanks to the watchful eyes and proactive efforts of FCI-Greenville correctional officers, a potentially dangerous situation was averted," according to Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez, who also emphasized the commitment of FBI Springfield to work hand in hand with prison officials ensuring safety for staff and inmates alike.