Escapee Caught Smuggling Liquor, Smokes Back Into Prison

ATLANTA, GA -- A federal inmate has pleaded guilty to escaping from the United States Penitentiary minimum security camp in Atlanta, the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said Friday.

Justin B. Stinson entered the guilty plea more than two months after he was caught trying to get back into the prison after picking up some contraband in a duffel bag outside the facility.

“Stinson escaped from Atlanta’s federal prison solely to smuggle contraband back inside it,” said U. S. Attorney John A. Horn. “This case shines a light on a recurring problem with prisoners leaving the camp, which creates safety concerns in the surrounding neighborhoods as well as within the camp itself when inmates return with contraband to feed a thriving black market.”

UPS Atlanta, a medium-security prison for male inmates, is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The facility also has a detention center for pre-trial inmates as well as a satellite prison camp for minimum-security inmates.

In March 2015, Stinson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in a Florida federal court. From August 2016 to February of this year, Stinson was assigned to serve his time at USP Atlanta’s minimum security camp.

On Feb. 3, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance along the USP Atlanta's prison fence line near New Town Circle. Just after 9 p.m., Stinson escaped from the prison by climbing through a hole in one fence and climbing over the prison's outer fence.

The inmate retrieved a large black duffel bag from the occupant of a stopped car on New Town Circle and began walking back towards the institution. The FBI then arrested Stinson from a location outside of USP Atlanta’s confines. The agency also recovered from Stinson a cellular telephone, a pair of scissors, two 1.75 liters of Jose Cuervo tequila, two cartons of Newport cigarettes, four boxes of Black and Mild cigars, and various food items.

Stinson, 37, was indicted Feb. 14 by a federal grand jury on escape and contraband smuggling charges, and he eventually pleaded guilty to one count of escape.

He is scheduled to be sentenced at 2:30 p.m. June 28 before U.S. District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr.

“The safety of our communities is the department’s number one priority, and escaped inmates clearly have the ability to threaten the well-being of unsuspecting residents, including the numerous children who live in proximity to the prison," said Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields. "The department is extremely grateful to U.S. Attorney John Horn and his staff for making this case a priority, and sending a strong message to other inmates who may be inclined to attempt escape that additional sentencing will be forthcoming."

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