BOSTON (AP) – An inmate counselor at a federal prison in Massachusetts received nearly $140,000 in illegal benefits and loans by using a wealthy inmate in his care, federal prosecutors say.
William S. Tidwell, 49, of Keene, New Hampshire, agreed to plead guilty to bribery in violation of official duties, making false bank statements and identity theft, the US attorney in Boston said Monday.
Tidwell will appear in federal court at a later date. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney.
Tidwell has worked for the Bureau of Prisons since 2000 and since 2008 has been at the Federal Medical Center-Devens. As a counselor, his duties included working closely with inmates on their work and housing assignments. Under Bureau of Prisons rules, employees are prohibited from receiving payments, gifts, or personal gifts from inmates.
One of the inmates Tidwell was targeting was what prosecutors described as a “high-value individual” serving time for financial crimes.
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That inmate, identified only as “person 1” in court documents, in 2018 directed a close friend and business associate to wire $25,000 to a Tidwell family member, prosecutors said. Beginning in 2019, Tidwell and a wealthy inmate entered into a property management agreement that resulted in $65,000 in benefits to Tidwell, prosecutors said.
Tidwell also allegedly obtained a $50,000 loan from a wealthy spouse to buy a home, prosecutors said. He lied, telling the bank the $50,000 was a gift and forged documents to support the claim, authorities said.
Acting US Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement: “Correction officers are placed in a position of public trust.” Most correctional officers carry out their duties with integrity and competence. They know that accepting payments from a prisoner – as alleged against Mr. Tidwell here – a serious breach of that trust and a betrayal of the BOP’s approach to federal service and indefinite protection.
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