Correctional Officer Sentenced for Smuggling Scheme After IRS Flags Hidden Income

A South Carolina prison guard ended up with a federal prison sentence of her own after being caught smuggling drugs into a federal correctional institution (FCI). Angela Crosland, 51, of Elgin, once tasked with maintaining law and order inside the walls of FCI Williamsburg, now finds herself behind bars, with a sentence of 136 months.

The conviction comes after a federal jury found Crosland guilty of bribery, money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine and suboxone, and filing false tax returns. Over the course of a two-day trial, prosecutors painted a detailed picture of corruption fueled by cash and contraband.

Crosland was found to have smuggled drugs, marijuana, food, and even K2-laced paper into the prison. Her clientele? Inmates whose family members and associates funneled payments through her Cash App account—$56,791 worth of transactions that never made it onto her tax returns.

Officials were quick to condemn the breach of duty. "The integrity of our federal correctional system hinges on the ethical conduct of those sworn to uphold it," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina in a written statement. "When a correctional officer like Crosland chooses to betray that trust, it threatens the safety of both inmates and staff."

Special Agent Eric Fehlman, who leads the Southeast Region for the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, echoed those concerns. "Contraband items, like drugs, are often used as a form of currency inside federal prisons," he said. "That undermines the safety and security of everyone involved."

But it wasn't just the smuggled drugs that brought Crosland down—it was the money, and the failure to account for it. The IRS got involved after discovering she had failed to report her illicit earnings, triggering additional charges for filing false tax returns.

"IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to provide financial expertise while investigating individuals who engage in corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud," said Donald "Trey" Eakins, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson III handed down the 11-year, four-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to the prison time, Crosland was ordered to pay $18,649 in restitution to the IRS.