United States Attorney David Metcalf has announced that three individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (PICC). The individuals, Breyanna Cornish, Jawayne Brown, and Ahmad Nasir, appeared before United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert this week.
The defendants were charged in August of last year. Nasir, also known as Hussain Abdussamad, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and possession with intent to distribute buprenorphine. Brown’s plea included charges of conspiracy and federal program bribery, while Cornish pleaded guilty to two counts related to the scheme.
Court documents revealed that Nasir, who was detained at PICC, collaborated with Brown, Cornish, and others to smuggle items like drugs and electronics into the facility. Once inside, the contraband was sold to inmates, generating a profit for Nasir. He then arranged for payments to be made to Cornish and Brown for their involvement.
A search on July 10, 2021, uncovered a variety of contraband in a cell shared by Nasir. Among the items were cell phones, chargers, knives, and drugs. Messaging evidence showed communication between Nasir, Cornish, and Brown discussing the operation.
The sentencing for the defendants is set for August. Cornish could face up to 15 years in prison, Brown up to 25 years, and Nasir could receive up to 35 years.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan Claiborne and Ruth Mandelbaum are prosecuting.