Four ECI defendants could be taking plea deals

Plea deals may be on the table for four of the defendants named in the massive alleged contraband smuggling operation at Eastern Correctional Institution. 

In a status hearing Assistant United States Attorney Leo Wise said  as of November 10th  four defendants have signed plea agreements and are scheduled to enter guilty plea. From searching court documents  those four appear to be former correctional officer and current inmate Ramel Chase, correctional officer Rachelle Hankerson and outside facilitators Trina Williams Johnson and Miguel Matos.

Out of the four it was Hankerson who court documents show was the correctional officers that ordered an inmate to be stabbed at her request back in July of this year.

Hankerson was allegedly making $1,200 to $1,300 per trip where she would smuggle in synthetic marijuana, cans of tobacco and other contraband into the prison. 

Another seemingly big player in this scandal that may accept their plea is Trina Williams Johnson, who court documents show may have had a relationship with one of the inmates.

On the outside she allegedly facilitated drug deals  and actually picked up drugs and delivered them to correctional officers so they could smuggle them in.

All four defendants are scheduled to have re-indictment hearings either this month or next. It’s at those hearings where they would have the option to officially accept a plea agreement or request to go to trial.