JURIST - Paper Chase: DOJ agent killed by prison guard indicted in corruption probe

[JURIST] A guard at a federal detention center in Tallahassee, Florida, shot and killed a US Justice Department agent before being shot and killed himself Wednesday as FBI and Justice Department investigators arrived at the prison to arrest six men, including the guard, who were indicted Tuesday on corruption charges. The six allegedly brought contraband into the female quarters of the Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution [official website] and sold it in exchange for sex with the female inmates or silence concerning their activities. Also shot in the exchange was an employee of the federal Bureau of Prisons. The deceased agent was with the DOJ Office of the Inspector General [official website]. The attorney for the deceased guard, Ralph Hill, said afterwards that his client had been co-operating with prosecutors [Tallahassee Democrat report] in the investigation for months and had denied allegations against him.

No inmates were involved in the shootings. The remaining five men, all arrested without further incident, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of engaging in a conspiracy to commit acts of bribery, witness tampering, mail fraud and interstate transportation in aid of racketeering. The detention center, which houses early 1,500 inmates, is now in lockdown status. AP has more. The Tallahassee Democrat has local coverage. Watch the press conference [recorded video] from Tallahassee police officer John Newland.

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