Patrick Shackelford, a former federal correctional officer, was convicted by a federal jury for accepting bribes and conspiring with inmates to smuggle drugs and other contraband into U.S. Penitentiary Atlanta, according to an April 6 announcement. Shackelford was taken into custody immediately after the verdict on April 2.
The case highlights concerns about corruption within correctional facilities and its impact on institutional safety. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia serves as the principal federal law enforcement agency in the district, enforcing criminal laws and representing the United States in civil matters while working with law enforcement to protect public safety, according to the official website.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said, “Instead of fulfilling his duty to safeguard a federal prison, Shackelford took bribes from inmates to facilitate their smuggling of large quantities of methamphetamine and other contraband for distribution to other inmates. Shackelford betrayed his oath, chose to be a corrupt tool of the inmates in his charge, and potentially endangered the safety and security of his fellow officers and prisoners through his brazen conduct.”
According to court information presented by Hertzberg, from June 2018 through February 2019 Shackelford conspired with several inmates—including Patrick Kirkman, Mitchell Arms, James Hughes—to bring prohibited items such as methamphetamine and marijuana into USP-Atlanta using a secret hole in the visitation area restroom. Visitors would pass packages through this hole during weekend visits; inmate plumbers retrieved them under cover of maintenance work supervised by Shackelford.
Shackelford received $5,000 in cash plus pain pills for allowing these activities; meanwhile Kirkman paid nearly $20,000 via Cash App for smuggling services provided by Hughes’ crew. In February 2019 officials found over two dozen packages containing more than a pound of pure methamphetamine among other contraband hidden above an office ceiling—one of USP-Atlanta’s largest such recoveries.
Kirkman pleaded guilty to bribery on Feb. 11; Arms pleaded guilty last June; Hughes pleaded guilty last October on related charges involving prohibited objects including narcotics and cell phones inside prison walls.
Peter Ellis from FBI Georgia said: “By abusing his position…Shackelford undermined the safety…of [the] institution.” Eric Fehlman from DOJ Office of Inspector General stated: “The Correctional Officer’s acts compromised…safety…of [the] federal prison.”
Sentencing is set for July 20 before Judge William M. Ray II; Shackelford faces at least ten years without parole.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office covers north Georgia mountains through Atlanta suburbs up to borders with Alabama and Carolinas according to its official website. The office coordinates cases that can have national or international reach according to its official website. Theodore S. Hertzberg holds this position according to its official website.
