Another ECI inmate accepts plea in massive contraband case

Another inmate has accepted a plea deal for his role in the massive contraband trafficking operation at Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI). Wednesday 33-year-old Ronald Stewart a.k.a. Freak, plead guilty to the charge of racketeering conspiracy.

As part of the deal, Stewart admitted that he had obtained contraband for two other inmates named in the 80 person indictment. According to court documents Stewart not only gave contraband to inmates Michael Counts a.k.a. Feaster and Travis Gie a.k.a. T-Guy, but he also managed proceeds from the contraband business for them.

Court documents reveal that in Count's view Stewart became unreliable and was later replaced in the operation by another inmate, Leondrus Higgins.

Stewart could face up to 20 years for his role in the operation. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.

Back in October of 2016 a federal grand jury indicted 80 defendants in two separate indictments for a racketeering conspiracy being operated at ECI.

Accroding to federal officials inmates bribed correctional officers to smuggle contraband into the prison. Inmates also worked with outside facilitators to get things such synthetic marijuana and suboxone strips to give to correctional officers.