A former city prison officer pleaded guilty on Monday to federal drug and attempted extortion charges for attempting to smuggle 100 non-prescribed OxyContin pills for an inmate of the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in exchange for $1,000 cash.
Joseph Romano, 31, was assigned to PICC on July 29, 2014, when he attempted to deliver the pills to an inmate. Romano was later transferred to Riverside Correctional Center. Both facilities are in the Philadelphia Prison System’s State Road complex.
Romano was among six prison officers charged by indictment on Sept. 9 for attempting to deliver drugs or cellular telephones to inmates in exchange for cash payments.
Typically, an officer would arrange with an inmate to meet with the inmate’s purported associate outside the prison. The associate would pass the pills and cash to the officer.
Each of the instances cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office occurred between Sept. 16, 2013, and Dec. 29, 2014. Other defendants include John Wesley Herder, 49; Bryant Fields, 43; George Kindle, 29; Marc Thompson, 23; and Dupree Myers, 27, all of Philadelphia.
Romano pleaded guilty to attempted extortion interfering with interstate commerce and two counts of attempted distribution of controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond will preside over a March 14 sentencing hearing. Romano faces up to 40 years in prison. ••
