A former guard at Oregon's federal prison is now on the wrong side of the bars after taking bribes to smuggle contraband into the facility. Nickolas Carlos Herrera, 34, of McMinnville, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for illicit activities carried out during his tenure as a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan. Herrera's corrupt actions included sneaking in items such as marijuana, phones, cigarettes, and even designer sneakers into the medium-security federal prison.
Herrera, who accepted payment for the smuggled goods, was involved in this scheme from April 2015 until December 2019, as reported by OregonLive. In addition to other contraband, Herrera also allowed an inmate, Donte Hunt, to access a staff phone to coordinate deliveries, an operation that finally caught the eye of authorities. Hunt, already in custody for drug, gun, and money laundering charges was among those who received goodies like Yeezy sneakers, through Herrera, according to KOIN.
With the gravity of the situation in mind, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman handed down a sentence that he believed would resonate with other corrections officers and deter future violations of public trust. "If I send a corrections officer to prison for bribery, then I feel a high degree of confidence that is going to send a message that other correction officers will listen to," Mosman proclaimed, in a statement obtained by OregonLive.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, conducted a thorough investigation that led to Herrera's downfall. Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office, Aubree Schwartz weighed in on the case, saying, "Corruption by any public official or law enforcement officer is unacceptable." Schwartz emphasized, "Mr. Herrera dishonored both himself and the law he swore to uphold, as well as the justice system he represents, by allowing a free flow of criminal activity in and out of the prison," revelations made clear by KTVZ.
In addition to his prison sentence, Herrera will face three years of supervised release post-incarceration. Special Agent in Charge of the DOJ Office of the Inspector General's Western Region, Zachary Shroyer, underscored the implications of the sentence: "Today’s sentencing shows that correctional officers who accept bribes and bring contraband into federal prisons will be held accountable for their crimes," a stern reminder to those in positions of authority who might be swayed by personal gain.
