A former correctional officer at the Federal Corrections Institution Gilmer in West Virginia has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from inmates in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison. Hector Lopez, 41, of Weston, West Virginia, admitted to receiving $40,000 in payments either directly from inmates or on their behalf.
Lopez entered his plea to a charge of bribery of a public official. He now faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is handling the prosecution for the government. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the proceedings.
