A case manager at the city’s Federal Correctional Institution is facing up to 30 years behind bars after she was indicted Thursday on two charges in connection with a plot to take cash from inmates in exchange for their early release.
U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly said that 42-year-old Kisha Perkins was indicted by a federal grand jury in New Haven. Perkins, who is from Waterbury, was charged with one count of paying a bribe to a public official and one count of acceptance of a bribe by a public official.
Perkins was arrested in connection with the scheme on March 14 and then released on $100,000 bond. But that bond was revoked just two weeks later and she now awaits her arraignment on April 7 in New Haven. In a statement, Daly stressed that the indictment is not evidence of guilt and that Perkins is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Authorities say Perkins approached a prison co-worker in June 2013 about an opportunity to take a $20,000 cash bribe from an inmate. Perkins asked for the co-worker’s help because the co-worker had the authority to recommend the inmate for early release to a halfway house. In exchange for the co-worker’s help, Perkins allegedly offered to give them half of the cash.
The co-worker refused to participate, reported the incident and is cooperating with investigators. In July 2013, the co-worker told Perkins that they had changed their mind, but Perkins said the bribe couldn’t be made with that inmate anymore.In February, the co-worker identified a second inmate as a possible target for the scheme and Perkins allegedly agreed to participate.
On March 8, Perkins and her co-worker went to a commuter lot off of Interstate 84 in Waterbury to pick up a partial bribe payment of $5,000 in a fast food bag that Perkins thought had come from an acquaintance of the inmate.
Daly’s office said the bribery is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.