rockin'robin
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NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
The latest findings in the Channel 4 I-Team's "crime in punishment" investigation shows death row inmates scoring smartphone contraband.
One inmate even solicited drugs and tobacco through a social media site often used for dating and finding relationships.
Stephen Hugueley is on death row at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution for the murder of three people, including his mother.
But the I-Team found him on the social media site "Mocospace," posting pictures of his tattoos from inside his cell and going by the name "deathrowprisoner68."
On his social media profile, he asks if anyone would like to make extra money for illegal activities by smuggling in cell phones, chargers, tobacco and marijuana.
"I immediately think about the family members and think what they experience when they hear this kind of stuff," said Verna Wyatt, crime victims' advocate.
The I-Team also found, since 2012, four other death row inmates have been busted with contraband cell phones or chargers.
State records show the cell phones and chargers were found in a fake shampoo bottle, a false wall behind a shower, inside a multi-outlet surge protector and in a hidden area above a cell window.
"That just shows you the level of ingenuity people have in smuggling contraband into the prisons. It's mind boggling,” Wyatt said.
Neysa Taylor, spokeswoman for the department of correction, said in a statement:
"The introduction of cell phones into secure facilities is an ongoing problem that every corrections agency is aware of and diligently working against. It is our industry's position that one of the most effective solutions to fighting mobile phones in prison is to utilize cell phone jamming technology. Unfortunately, that technology is currently banned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). With the cell jamming option currently off the table, this Department has utilized a number of measures to control the flow of cell phones such as enhanced searches, detection dogs and various electronic tools. The TDOC continues to be proactive by countering the issue with available technology and continuing to seek out additional methods. The agency also aggressively pursues criminal prosecution against anyone who introduce or attempt to introduce cellular phones into our facilities. We remain vigilant in our fight to reduce contraband in our facilities."
Our investigation also found that a more than $100,000 taxpayer funded full body scanner at Riverbend Prison is still not up and operating.
Taylor did not respond by our deadline to our questions about how the death row inmates scored the contraband cell phones.
The I-Team earlier reported that last year, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation issued 11 violations when they inspected the scanner. TDOC then stopped using it until it could meet TDEC's standards.
The I-Team's earlier investigation into contraband at Riverbend resulted in the termination and prosecution of a correctional officer. Click here to see that investigation.
http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/29...ll-phone-gets-on-dating-website#ixzz3abYrBwLI
The latest findings in the Channel 4 I-Team's "crime in punishment" investigation shows death row inmates scoring smartphone contraband.
One inmate even solicited drugs and tobacco through a social media site often used for dating and finding relationships.
Stephen Hugueley is on death row at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution for the murder of three people, including his mother.
But the I-Team found him on the social media site "Mocospace," posting pictures of his tattoos from inside his cell and going by the name "deathrowprisoner68."
On his social media profile, he asks if anyone would like to make extra money for illegal activities by smuggling in cell phones, chargers, tobacco and marijuana.
"I immediately think about the family members and think what they experience when they hear this kind of stuff," said Verna Wyatt, crime victims' advocate.
The I-Team also found, since 2012, four other death row inmates have been busted with contraband cell phones or chargers.
State records show the cell phones and chargers were found in a fake shampoo bottle, a false wall behind a shower, inside a multi-outlet surge protector and in a hidden area above a cell window.
"That just shows you the level of ingenuity people have in smuggling contraband into the prisons. It's mind boggling,” Wyatt said.
Neysa Taylor, spokeswoman for the department of correction, said in a statement:
"The introduction of cell phones into secure facilities is an ongoing problem that every corrections agency is aware of and diligently working against. It is our industry's position that one of the most effective solutions to fighting mobile phones in prison is to utilize cell phone jamming technology. Unfortunately, that technology is currently banned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). With the cell jamming option currently off the table, this Department has utilized a number of measures to control the flow of cell phones such as enhanced searches, detection dogs and various electronic tools. The TDOC continues to be proactive by countering the issue with available technology and continuing to seek out additional methods. The agency also aggressively pursues criminal prosecution against anyone who introduce or attempt to introduce cellular phones into our facilities. We remain vigilant in our fight to reduce contraband in our facilities."
Our investigation also found that a more than $100,000 taxpayer funded full body scanner at Riverbend Prison is still not up and operating.
Taylor did not respond by our deadline to our questions about how the death row inmates scored the contraband cell phones.
The I-Team earlier reported that last year, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation issued 11 violations when they inspected the scanner. TDOC then stopped using it until it could meet TDEC's standards.
The I-Team's earlier investigation into contraband at Riverbend resulted in the termination and prosecution of a correctional officer. Click here to see that investigation.
http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/29...ll-phone-gets-on-dating-website#ixzz3abYrBwLI