A former guard at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth was sentenced to two years on probation Monday for taking bribes, acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
In addition, he was ordered to serve six months home confinement and pay $4,800 in fines.
Michael Harston, 53, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., to one count of conspiracy to accept bribes and one count of accepting bribes.
In his plea, he admitted accepting bribes to provide inmates with tobacco, which is contraband. Inmates coordinated with their families and friends outside prison to pay Harston. They paid Harston as much as $1,000 for one six-ounce can of Bugler loose tobacco.
Beall commended the FBI, the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General Special, USP Leavenworth SIS and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leena Ramana for their work on the case.