James P. Jackson, a 39-year-old resident of Niles, Ohio, has admitted to accepting a bribe to smuggle illegal substances and other prohibited items into the Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) in Leavittsburg. The guilty plea was entered on July 15, 2025.
Jackson worked at TCI from 2022 to 2024 as a corrections officer and later as a general maintenance worker. His roles allowed him access to non-public areas of the prison. Court documents reveal that Jackson communicated with the wife of an inmate at TCI through text messages and phone calls. They eventually met on February 1, 2024, when she gave him two large packages intended for her husband inside the facility. In exchange, Jackson received $1,000 upfront and was promised another $1,000 upon successful delivery.
The following day, law enforcement intercepted Jackson as he attempted to bring the packages into TCI. The investigation uncovered that the packages contained drugs including methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoid, phencyclidine (PCP), along with a cellphone and SIM cards.
Charged under Hobbs Act extortion for using his position to smuggle contraband into TCI, Jackson faces up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: FBI Cleveland Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Trumbull Correctional Institutions-Office of Investigations, Ohio State Highway Patrol-Office of Criminal Investigations Prison Drug Unit and Investigative Services for the Warren District.
Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea S. Rice and Rebecca C. Lutzko handled prosecution for this case in the Northern District of Ohio.
