A former employee of California Medical Facility in Vacaville was sentenced to two years and one month in federal prison following a conviction of bribery in connection with programs receiving federal funds, the United States District Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced Thursday.
Stephen Joseph Crittenden, a 44-year-old Suisun City resident, accepted bribes from inmates from 2021 to 2023 in exchange for smuggling cell phones into the facility, the U.S. Attorney said. He received a total of $45,000, according to a press release.
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“Crittenden abused the trust placed in correctional officers by repeatedly taking bribes to smuggle contraband into a prison,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his abuse of trust and should deter other correctional officers from engaging in the same conduct.”
The FBI worked alongside the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on the case, the release explained. Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said the case showed strong collaboration between the department and the FBI.
“The FBI has no tolerance for corruption by public employees – especially law enforcement officers – who are entrusted to uphold the law and serve the public. No person is above the law,” Patel said.
