Four Idaho correction officers indicted
A federal grand jury in Boise has indicted four Idaho Department of Correction officers. In a separate case, the grand jury indicted a former correctional officer, a former inmate and an associate of the inmate.
Correctional officers Timothy Landon, 35, and Robert Wallin, 35, both of Boise are charged with two counts of conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of controlled substances and one count of possession and transportation of contraband cigarettes.
Correctional offices Richard McCollough, 36, of Boise and Eric Thompson, 38, of Star are charged with one count of conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of controlled substances, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of distribution of cocaine.
U.S. Attorney for Idaho Bart Davis said the charges of conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of controlled substances and distribution of cocaine are punishable by a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The charge of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a minimum of 5 years in prison. A second conviction of the offense carries an additional 25-year prison sentence.
And the charge of possession and transportation of contraband cigarettes is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The second set of indictments charge former correctional officer Joshua Barney, 43, of Boise, former inmate Colin McIntyre, 27, of Stanfield, Oregon, and McIntyre’s associate Tiffany Culbertson, 23, of Meridian with violations of Hobbs Act extortion statutes.
The case arose out of the defendants’ scheme to smuggle contraband into a prison facility. Hobbs Act violations are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to use, and using, a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of unlawful activity carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation was initiated by the FBI to address concerns of corruption among Idaho correctional officers.
