25 Charged in Violent Assaults and Smuggling Schemes at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center

Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) is grappling with a multi-faceted criminal environment, as 25 individuals, including inmates, a former correctional officer, and a street gang associate, have been charged in a series of violent assaults and contraband smuggling offenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed a dozen criminal cases detailing the charges that span a timeline from May 2024 through early 2025, according to a press release issued today. The list of charges includes assault with dangerous weapons, orchestrating smuggling operations, and continuing to commit fraud while behind bars.

The most egregious included a scheme where Daryl Campbell and four associates allegedly attempted to smuggle contraband through a "line" thrown out of an MDC-Brooklyn window, leading to the seizure of substances and prohibited items like suboxone, marijuana, and ceramic scalpels. In another heinous case, Mike Josie is accused of slashing another inmate's face while sitting at a table, resulting in serious lacerations requiring hospital treatment. United States Attorney John J. Durham emphasized the dedication to combating crime within prison walls, stating, “As alleged, in several separate charging instruments, inmates viciously attacked fellow detainees, a correctional officer betrayed his duty by attempting to smuggle drugs into the facility, several inmates orchestrated elaborate contraband smuggling operations and yet another inmate continued to engage in fraud schemes while detained.  These actions undermine the order and security of MDC-Brooklyn and endanger everyone within its walls.  My Office is working tirelessly to hold accountable those who commit violent acts or introduce contraband into the prison, whether they are inmates or staff.  These charges serve as a warning to those who would engage in criminal conduct behind bars, and anyone else who facilitates those crimes: your conduct will be uncovered, and you will be held accountable,” as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The press release provides a detailed briefing of each case. For instance, in the situation involving a former correctional officer, Najee Jackson was indicted for attempting to bring marijuana and cigarettes into MDC-Brooklyn. After failing to clear the metal detector, he was discovered with the contraband hidden in his protective vest. Another inmate, Tyquan Robinson, charged in a five-count superseding indictment, was found using a contraband cellphone to further a separate fraud scheme while detained, raising concerns about prison security measures and internal controls.

In response to these incidents, the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Prisons reaffirmed their intolerance for such behavior, with Kathleen Toomey stating, “The Federal Bureau of Prisons would like to thank the FBI and the EDNY for their partnership and support to further prevent and prosecute violence and contraband in our facilities, through our unified efforts we are making our facilities safer for our employees and those in our custody." Law enforcement's continuous crackdown on prison crime is exemplified by the comprehensive investigative work done by various departments. These collaborative efforts are aimed at enforcing order within the federal detention system, further highlighted by Ortega-Corea's capture, who was nabbed in Minnesota, for his alleged involvement in smuggling a substantial amount of contraband into the prison, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The involved Assistant United States Attorneys and the Special Agent, along with other law enforcement specialists, are in the middle of an ongoing commitment to ensure accountability and uphold the integrity of prison systems.