Anthony “Harv” Ellison, previously convicted of kidnapping 6ix9ine in 2018, has been named in an indictment focused on an alleged smuggling ring at the federal facility where he was incarcerated.
As first reported by Ben Feuerherd of the New York Post, the indictment in question also sees a Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) employee being accused of having attempted to influence a judge prior to sentencing. In court documents dated Nov. 3 and viewed by Complex, Ellison—as well as 10 other defendants—are accused of having carried out an “extensive scheme” that included bribery and the smuggling of contraband into (and distribution of said contraband inside) the Manhattan facility.
The alleged contraband is said to have included controlled substances, phones, alcohol, cigarettes, and more. Specific items mentioned in court documents include Suboxone, Oxycodone, and K2. A total of three individuals are mentioned as having been employees of the Bureau of Prisons working at the jail during the time of the alleged operation, which is said to have been in motion from October 2019 through “at least” January of this year.
A defendant by the name of Sharon Griffith-McKnight, then working as a Unit Secretary for the MCC, allegedly “sought to influence” a New York judge to give Ellison a “less serious punishment” by sending a letter claiming Ellison had shown “tremendous growth” and proven to be a “model inmate.”
Griffith-McKnight is facing an obstruction of justice charge in connection with these allegations. Ellison’s charges include include wire fraud conspiracy and narcotics conspiracy. Both of those charges, as well as the aforementioned obstruction charge, carry maximum prison terms of 20 years. Another MCC worker, a Correctional Officer by the name of Perry Joyner, faces their own obstruction charge in connection with allegedly using intimidation and threats to persuade a witness.
“Federal law enforcement officers take an oath to defend the laws of the United States and protect its citizens,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said in a press release on Thursday. “We allege the guards we’ve arrested today acted like nothing more than the criminals in their charge and assisted incarcerated offenders in committing more crimes. Our FBI/NYPD Joint Violent Crimes Task Force is working with our partners to root out the corruption we’ve uncovered; they will find everyone who should be held accountable for their blatant disregard for the law.”
Ellison’s name popped up frequently during 6ix9ine’s widely covered (including on Complex and Spotify’s Infamous podcast and in an upcoming book from Complex’s Shawn Setaro) racketeering case. Ellison was convicted for, among other things, kidnapping the Dummy Boy artist back in July 2018.
