Janai Chanel Stephens, a 38-year-old resident of Opa Locka, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges related to providing contraband to a federal prisoner and making a false statement to a federal agency. Stephens faces up to five years in federal prison, although no sentencing date has been set yet. The indictment against her was issued by a federal grand jury on May 28, 2024.
Court records reveal that on March 10, 2024, Stephens entered the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County with tobacco cigarettes intended for an inmate. Tobacco is banned in federal prisons due to its potential impact on order and security. Upon entry, Stephens falsely assured a corrections officer that she had no tobacco products. Surveillance footage later captured her passing the contraband during a visitation.
The case forms part of a United States Department of Justice task force initiative targeting contraband and misconduct within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The task force includes contributions from several agencies: the BOP and DOJ's Office of the Inspector General led it with assistance from the FBI, DEA, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is prosecuting this case following investigations conducted by both the BOP and DEA.