Oakdale woman pleads guilty to bribery charge at federal prison

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that an Oakdale woman pleaded guilty last week to receiving bribes for smuggling cell phones and tobacco into the Federal Correctional Institution at Oakdale.

Billie A. Holmes, 55, of Oakdale, La., pleaded guilty January 17, 2017 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of bribery of a public official. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi. According to the guilty plea, Holmes worked as an education contractor for FCI Oakdale. From September 2014 to May 2015, an inmate paid Holmes thousands of dollars to smuggle cell phones and tobacco into the prison. In January of 2015, another inmate informed law enforcement that he had been approached by an inmate who offered to sell him a cell phone for $1,600. Upon further investigation, it was learned that Holmes worked with an inmate to smuggle contraband into the prison. During the investigation, Holmes was recorded making plans to smuggle in a cell phone. Financial records also showed $4,200 in wire transfers to Holmes between November 2014 and December 2014.

Holmes faces not more than 15 years in prison, not more than three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of April 21, 2017 was set.

The U.S. Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is prosecuting the case.