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Investigators: More Than Half Of Corrections Officers At Jail Helped Inmates Smuggle In Contraband

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—WJZ has a clearer picture of the illegal happenings inside the Baltimore City Detention Center. A new indictment provides shocking details of all the prison corruption.

Linh Bui has the latest on the investigation.

WJZ has been following this case since the beginning, and the latest round of indictments includes 14 correctional officers.

Sex, drugs, murder--bombshell accusations about criminal activity inside the Baltimore City Detention Center.

"The allegations in this case suggest there was significant corruption," said Rod Rosenstein, Maryland U.S. Attorney.

Black Guerrilla Family gang members were allegedly running lucrative drug operations behind bars with the help of corrupt correctional guards.

The accused mastermind – Tavon White -- pleaded guilty.

And now, 44 BGF gang members and their associates have been indicted on federal charges.

More than half are correctional officers; 14 of them just indicted Thursday.

According to the U.S. attorney, putting gang members behind bars does not stop gang activity in the streets. In some cases, it may make it even worse.

Newly released court documents detail a shocking world inside the prison:

-Correctional officers prostituting themselves out to inmates.

-BGF gang members charging other inmates rent to live in the prison.

-How smuggled cell phones kept the operation running.

"If folks are behind bars but still have leadership and authority, they're able to order things to happen out on the street. They're able to order drugs and contraband delivered to the facility," Rosenstein said.

According to documents, female correctional officers hid that contraband in their underwear, hair and internally. One hid an ounce of marijuana in her private parts every day.

The union rep for the correctional officers calls for tougher background checks and closer supervision.

"Too many things can happen inside these institutions," said Archer Blackwell, union representative.

Federal investigators believe more than half of the corrections officers at the jail helped inmates smuggle in contraband.

Contraband smuggled into the prison included drugs, weapons, cell phones and money.

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