Ten individuals from Pennsylvania and Arizona have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on charges of racketeering. The indictment includes allegations of bribery conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
The indictment was returned on July 22 and unsealed today. Those named are Lakesha Stith of Johnstown; Ashley Aguilar of Phoenix; Mikal Davis, currently incarcerated at Indiana County Jail; James Johnson-Ross of Altoona; Marcos Monarrez Jr., incarcerated at FDC Philadelphia; Jessica Niebauer of Altoona; Monique Valencia of Phoenix; Blake Young, incarcerated at SCI Laurel Highlands; Asiah Young-Atwell of Johnstown; and Carlos Zamora, incarcerated at Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.
According to the indictment, from July 2023 through December 19, 2023, several defendants participated in racketeering activities inside Cambria County Prison. Stith and Young-Atwell were employed as a correctional officer and medical staff nurse at the facility. They allegedly accepted bribes from inmate defendants to bring contraband into the prison. Items included synthetic cannabinoids (K2), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Suboxone strips, cell phones, security tools, and cigarettes.
Stith and Young-Atwell reportedly concealed contraband in lunch bags or containers to bypass screening procedures before delivering items throughout the prison. Contraband was delivered to private rooms in the medical department without cameras, storage closets used as stash locations for inmates to retrieve items later, or directly into cells and housing units. The indictment also alleges that both staff members had personal relationships with some inmates and warned them about planned searches.
Inmates used smuggled phones to coordinate with those inside and outside the prison—including Aguilar, Niebauer, and Valencia—who are charged with money laundering conspiracy related to these activities. Profits from sales within the prison were substantial: cell phones sold for up to $10,000 each while Suboxone strips ranged from $75 to $250 per strip.
“It is extremely dangerous when individuals employed within our prison systems choose to abuse their authority at the expense of the safety and well-being of inmates they are charged with overseeing,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Not only did the correctional officer and medical staff member in this case engage in inappropriate personal relations with inmates and accept bribes for sneaking contraband into the prison, which the defendant inmates then sold to others at a substantial profit, but they also provided confidential information about planned inmate cell searches and other internal security matters. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that this criminal abuse of trust is prosecuted regardless of whether those committing the acts are inside or outside of the confines of the prison.”
“Today’s RICO Indictment underscores the critical importance of our concerted efforts to protect both public and inmate safety,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “This investigation has revealed the significant threat posed by transnational criminal organizations within our correctional facilities. The successful outcome of this operation is directly attributable to the effective interagency cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The inherent challenges of bringing RICO cases to trial highlight the exceptional skill and dedication of our investigators and prosecutors. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and ensuring the security of our communities.”
“Prisons have unique security challenges that are complex and require all involved to act in accordance with the law and procedures,” said Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer. “Inspections and reviews of compliance are an integral part of ensuring the maintenance of security at any prison to ensure the health and safety of inmates and correction officers alike. When it became apparent that certain individuals within the Cambria County Prison were engaging in corrupt activities, prison leadership, the Prison Board, and law enforcement took appropriate steps to contain the problem and worked alongside our federal partners to ensure that these perpetrators of criminal activity were brought to justice. We appreciate the special relationship that we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we thank them for their hard work on this matter. This is yet another example of the successes our community experiences when local, state, and federal entities all work together toward a common goal.”
If convicted on all counts under federal law governing racketeering offenses such as these https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-109-rico-charges , each defendant could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment or fines up to $250,000 depending on offense severity or prior record.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Shaun Sweeney will prosecute this case for federal authorities.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-investigations , FBI Safe Streets Task Force https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/safe-streets-task-forces , Cambria County District Attorney’s Office https://www.cambriacountypa.gov/da.aspx , along with Cambria County Prison officials.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
