U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Wednesday that a former D.C. Department of Corrections caseworker, Herbert Baylor, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by a term of six months of home detention for his role in a contraband smuggling scheme at the facility.
Baylor, 68, pled guilty on April 16 to one count of bribery. In addition to his sentence, he was ordered to spend a year of supervised release and 60 hours of community service.
Pamela Porter, 56, from the District, was sentenced to six months in home detention for her involvement in the fraud. Pirro could not specify how Porter was associated with the DOC. Porter pleaded guilty on April 17 to one count of bribery and was ordered to perform 60 hours of community service.
According to court filings, Baylor worked as a case manager at the Department of Correction. His responsibility was to assist and oversee offenders held at the Correctional Treatment Facility. Beginning in October 2023, Baylor collaborated with an inmate and others to smuggle contraband into CTF in exchange for cash.
The inmate reportedly directed non-incarcerated individuals, including Porter, to transmit CashApp payments to Baylor. To clear security at CTF, Baylor hid smokes or controlled substances. Once passing security, Baylor took the detainee to his office and handed him the contraband. The inmate then distributed the contraband to other CTF inmates in exchange for money. Porter paid Baylor $1,200 as part of the scam. Baylor collected a total of $7,995 between October 20, 2023, and June 21, 2024.
On September 19, 2024, the inmate asked Baylor if they might contact his attorney to discuss an appeal. Baylor authorized the inmate’s request, but instead of calling an attorney, they contacted someone on the outside to arrange for the delivery of goods that are not permitted in the facility to be smuggled inside CTF. Baylor agreed to smuggle Suboxone strips into the CTF for the inmate. Suboxone strips contain Buprenorphine, a narcotic medication.
Then, on September 23, 2024, Baylor met with the individual the inmate had contacted in the CTF parking lot. Baylor accepted $1,000 in cash from the individual and received a cigarette carton that he assumed was loaded with Suboxone strips. Following the encounter with the outsider, Baylor placed the $1,000 in his car and the cigarette carton in his underwear. After returning to the facility, Baylor was arrested.
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