Rikers Guard From Yonkers Took $2,500 Bribe To Smuggle Phone: DA

YONKERS, NY — A Yonkers man is accused of abusing his position as a New York City correctional officer to line his own pockets.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber announced on Thursday that a former NYC Department of correction officer, an inmate and a civilian have been indicted for smuggling a cellphone to the inmate in a Rikers Island jail.

"The defendant, a Correction Officer at the time, allegedly took a $2,500 bribe for sneaking in an iPhone to an inmate," Clark said in a statement. "Contraband can lead to violence, and this officer tarnished his badge and put his fellow officers and inmates in danger. My Office will not tolerate criminal activity by anyone who threatens safety in the jail."

The DA said Bennie Green, 36, of Yonkers, a former correction officer, was indicted on third-degree bribe receiving, first-degree promoting prison contraband, second- degree promoting criminal contraband and official misconduct.

"This former City Correction officer, as alleged, smuggled a cell phone to a person in custody on Rikers Island in exchange for cash," Strauber said of the allegations. "Contraband cellphones in City jails pose risks to both officers and inmates, and this officer, as charged, violated his duty to his fellow officers and to the public for a payout. I thank the Department of Correction and the Bronx District Attorney for their commitment to pursue officer misconduct that jeopardizes the safety of the jails to the full extent of the law."

Barry Wells, 35, a Rikers Island inmate, was also indicted in the case. He faces third-degree bribery, first-degree promoting prison contraband, and second-degree promoting prison contraband charges.

Starquiasha Singletary, 32, of the Bronx, a civilian, was indicted on first-degree promoting prison contraband, and second-degree promoting prison contraband.

Green and Singletary were arraigned Thursday in the Bronx and are due back in court on September 14. Wells will be arraigned at a later date, according to prosecutors.

Investigators said Wells instructed Singletary to buy him an iPhone. Through a series of calls between July 30, 2021, and August 5, 2021, Wells and Singletary made arrangements for the cell phone to be picked up from Singletary. Phone records revealed that Green called the cell phone multiple times. On the following day, surveillance videos show Green entering Wells’ cell in the Anna M. Kross Center. A few hours later, an associate of Wells sent three separate Zelle payments to Green, totaling $2,500.