United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced on Mar. 10 the unsealing of four indictments that charge employees, inmates, and associates of inmates at the Citrus County Detention Facility with bribery and drug-related offenses.
The indictments involve multiple individuals accused of introducing contraband, such as cellphones and controlled substances, into the private jail in exchange for money. The charges highlight concerns about security breaches in facilities intended to securely house federal inmates awaiting trial or sentencing.
According to the first indictment, Justin Harvey, a correctional officer at the facility, allegedly agreed to bring a cellphone into the jail after being approached by an inmate working under law enforcement’s direction. Harvey reportedly received $4,000 for smuggling the device inside. A similar scheme is alleged against Dekarri Nixon, another correctional officer who also accepted $4,000 to introduce a cellphone into the facility.
A third indictment charges Courtney Smith, a commissary worker at CCDF, and Joshua Gallimore, a federal inmate. Smith is accused of receiving at least $5,700 in bribes from Gallimore and his associates in exchange for smuggling contraband—including cellphones—into the jail.
The fourth indictment involves Nicole Knecht (a nurse), Ashley Fraccalvieri (a former correctional officer), Ernest Grimaldi (a state inmate), and April Vanzant. This group is alleged to have worked together to introduce controlled substances into CCDF using methods such as exchanging drugs outside the facility before smuggling them inside. Law enforcement reportedly intercepted Knecht with controlled substances intended for delivery into CCDF after she met with Fraccalvieri; Fraccalvieri was later found carrying more than 400 oxycodone pills obtained from Vanzant.
Authorities emphasize that an indictment is only a formal charge and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service, and Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated these cases; prosecution will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
