United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FORMER FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX ABUSE

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that former correctional officer GREGORY WEBB, age 41, of 27 Cave Street, New Haven, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to one count of sexual abuse of a female prison inmate and one count of knowingly and willfully making a materially false statement to a federal law enforcement officer in connection with the investigation of his sexual abuse of a female inmate. Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello accepted WEBB's plea of guilty this morning in Hartford.

The U.S. Attorney noted that federal criminal law prohibits any sexual acts or contacts between federal correctional officers and inmates under their supervision and control.

WEBB admitted during today's guilty plea proceedings that on September 23, 2003, he engaged in oral sex with a female inmate while he was employed as a correctional officer at the Danbury women's prison. WEBB further admitted to lying to a federal law enforcement officer on September 30, 2003, in connection with an investigation of his sexual act with the victim inmate.

WEBB has resigned from his position as a correctional officer at the federal women's prison in Danbury, Connecticut.
"Sexual contact between an inmate and a correctional officer is not only inappropriate, it's illegal, and the additional charge of lying to a federal law enforcement officer makes this case even more troubling," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Federal government employees and correctional officers must be held to a higher standard when it comes to following the law. When an individual holds both titles, this type of conduct is doubly alarming, and intolerable."

WEBB is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Covello on May 25, 2004. On the false statement charge, he faces a maximum term of five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. On the sexual abuse charge, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.

The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey A. Meyer.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov