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Warden Who Led Prison ‘Rape Club’ Convicted Of Sexual Abuse

Federal Bureau of Prisons YouTube channel/Screenshot

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Trevor Schakohl Legal Reporter
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A federal jury convicted a former warden at the Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin, California, Thursday of sexually abusing three female prisoners and lying to authorities.

Ray J. Garcia, 55, was found guilty of three counts sexual abuse and one count of sexually abusive contact toward one inmate, two counts of sexually abusive contact toward a second, and one count of sexually abusive contact toward a third, in addition making false statements about his actions to government agents, a Justice Department (DOJ) press release said. Garcia and prison staff were accused during the trial of crimes committed so openly that inmates called the situation a “rape club,” according to the New York Post.

The FBI found naked photos of inmates on his government-issued cellphone before Garcia’s 2021 resignation, the outlet reported. DOJ Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz said Garcia “fostered a culture of abuse at FCI Dublin,” according to the press release. (RELATED: Soros-Backed DA Seeks To Protect Illegal Immigrant Crime Suspects From Deportation)

Prosecutors argued Garcia intentionally carried out the abuse in parts of the prison not covered by cameras, the Post reported. He told victims he would make sure they were released if they did not report his crimes.

Garcia’s sentencing has been scheduled for March, the press release said. His convictions carry a combined maximum of 61 years in prison.

Two other prison officials have entered guilty pleas, with a further two being charged, according to the Post. Some inmates claimed their abuse accusations against employees resulted in them being placed in solitary confinement or transferred to other prisons.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) strongly condemns all forms of sexually abusive behavior,” the bureau told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The events that occurred at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin were the result of the criminal actions of an employee who clearly abandoned his training, ethics, and morals. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for the assistance they provided in bringing to justice, an individual who so egregiously violated a position of public trust.”

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