A South Carolina prison officer is accused of several crimes, including accepting over $219,000 worth of bribes. He also faces charges of smuggling 173 contraband mobile phones to inmates.
Her case is just one of many that highlight the corruption issues in South Carolina’s jail system.
Federal prosecutors claim that a supervisor in charge of security in a South Carolina jail accepted bribes totaling more than $219,000 over three years, and procured 173 contraband cell phones for the inmates.
Christine Mary Livingston (46), was indicted on 15 counts, including conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering.
Livingston has been employed by the South Carolina Department of Corrections since 1996. Investigators say that in 2016, she was promoted to Captain at Broad River Correctional Institution, which placed her in charge of security at the medium-security Columbia prison.
Livingston accepted bribes from an inmate (33-year-old Jerell Reaves) for contraband cellphones and accessories. According to the federal indictment, they would accept $1,000 to $7,000 for a smartphone via the Cash App money transfer service.
Federal prosecutors stated that Reaves and Livingston were also known as Hell Rell and Hell Rell Queen.
Livingston’s operation, in which she was involved, appears to be extensive. She worked with her partners on illicit means to earn money.
Court documents state that in 2018, she conspired to kill Reaves who was serving a sentence at Broad River Correctional Institution for a voluntary manslaughter conviction. According to the indictment, he paid Livingston a minimum of $42,600 worth of bribes.
According to the indictment, Reaves was only one of about 12 inmates and their friends from whom Livingston received bribes.
Livingston held 14 peer-to-peer payment accounts including Cash App. These accounts were linked to her financial accounts and operated under pseudonyms.
According to the indictment, she received more than $200,000 in bribes and smuggled at least 173 mobile phones, along with headphones, screen protectors, and phone chargers. She also smuggled SIM cards, headphones, and other contraband items.
This case seems to be part of a larger problem within the prison system of the state. Livingston is just one of the many officials who have been accused of accepting bribes or smuggling contraband into prison facilities.
The state attorney general announced several indictments last year against multiple individuals involved in various illegal activities. These included allegations of sexual abuse, production of material containing child sexual abuse, and public corruption.
Officials stated that Jacob Nathaniel Lance is an inmate at Lee Correctional. He was accused of using a contraband cellphone from the prison to abuse a minor victim along with his alleged accomplice, Abbygale El-Dier. Lance received a notice from the State of its intent to seek Life Without Parole for this crime.
Officials said that the investigation revealed the alleged corruption by Brittany Welch. She is accused of participating in the conspiracy to distribute contraband at Lee Correctional and facilitating the availability and access of contraband for prison inmates.
Officials say Brian Keely is accused of being a part of the illegal contraband trade and in possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
Two state Department of Corrections officials were indicted in the “Block Party” investigation for crimes relating to contraband at Broad River Correctional Institution. According to the Attorney General, this investigation led to the seizures of 600 grams of methamphetamine and 200 grams of cocaine as well as marijuana, tobacco, and cell phones.
In another case, the state accused five Department of Corrections Officers of corruption and conspiring with others to smuggle phones and drugs into McCormick Correctional Institution.
Brittany Pixley is indicted, as are Judy Mather Shaquaila Moor, Dion Gaines, and George Leverette. The charges against them are numerous and range from sexual misconduct, to misconduct in office, to money laundering or unlawful possession of prescription medications.
Several other stories highlight the corruption problem in South Carolina’s jail system. The corruption problem is now widespread. Although the authorities have promised to clean up their system, it seems they still have much work to do.
