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UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

ALEXANDRIA    NEWPORT NEWS    NORFOLK    RICHMOND

CHUCK ROSENBERG, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jim Rybicki
Public Information Officer
Phone: (703) 842-4050 Fax: (703) 549-5202
E-Mail: usavae.press@usdoj.gov
Website: www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae

May 26, 2008


Further Information Contact:
Laura Taylor
Phone: (804) 819-5400

Prison Official and Inmate Charged on Bribery and Contraband Charges

(Richmond, VA) – Edward J. Goode, II, a.k.a. “Cleofus,” “Aunt,” “Cousin,” and “G,” age 39, of Midlothian, Virginia, voluntarily surrendered himself to law enforcement today on bribery and introduction of contraband into a prison facility charges. Gershom Canady, age 35, an inmate at FCI Petersburg, was similarly charged. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Glenn Fine, Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General; and Jennifer Smith Love, Special Agent-In-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today’s arrest and the unsealing of the indictment, which had been returned on May 21, 2008.

At the time of the alleged offenses, Goode was a federal prison guard at FCI Petersburg. He has been charged with conspiracy, seven counts of providing marijuana to prisoners, and seven counts of accepting bribes for violating his official duty by providing marijuana to a prisoner. Canady, who was a prisoner at FCI Petersburg, is similarly charged with conspiracy, seven counts of obtaining marijuana in a prison, and seven counts of paying bribes to a public official for violating his official duty. Each count of conspiracy carries a maximum of 5 years in prison. Each count of providing or possessing contraband carries a maximum of 5 years in prison; and paying or accepting bribes to or from a public official carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. Both defendants are facing a maximum exposure of 145 years in prison and $3,750,000 in fines.

According to Court documents, from the summer of 2006 until the summer of 2007, Canady allegedly bribed Goode to bring contraband, including marijuana, provided to Goode by friends and relatives of various inmates into the prison. He would provide the items to Canady, who would distribute them to other inmates.

In addition, Goode and Canady are alleged to have engaged in numerous secretive activities, including the use of code language during recorded conversations between Canady and the conspirators outside of the prison; and efforts to hide the transfer of money to purchase the contraband and pay the bribes, including the use of currency and difficult-to-trace Western Union Wire transfers.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Richmond Division and the Inspector General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David T. Maguire and George Metcalf are prosecuting the case for the United States.

Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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