NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A former corrections officer was sentenced to 27 months in prison on Wednesday for accepting bribes from prisoners in exchange for smuggling contraband into Rikers Island.
Rashawn Assanah, 26, was arrested in May 2021 for smuggling cigarettes, a weapon and K2 into the prison between November 2020 and February 2021.
K2 is a synthetic drug that can have psychotic side effects like extreme paranoia, hallucinations and confusion.
He accepted over $7,500 in bribes from prisoners in exchange for the contraband.
“Rashawn Assanah violated his oath to protect inmates in his care when he accepted cash bribes to smuggle dangerous contraband into Rikers Island,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. “That conduct was outrageous and unacceptable. His prison sentence should send a clear message to any correction officer who may be tempted to smuggle contraband to inmates: this is a serious crime that leads to serious jail time.”
Assanah pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges in October 2021, but he falsely claimed to have cancer in order to delay sentencing.
In addition to over two years of jail time, the judge ordered Assanah pay $18,000 in financial penalties and serve an additional three years of supervised release.
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