BALTIMORE – Former jailers Kimberly Dennis, age 27, and Antonia Allison, age 29, both of Baltimore, Maryland were sentenced this week to 24 months and 20 months in prison, respectively.
The two were convicted of racketeering conspiracy in which they smuggled drugs and other contraband, including cell phones, for members of the Black Guerilla Family, a violent prison gang inside several correctional facilities.
The two jailers had plead for their role in smuggling drugs and contraband into the Baltimore City Detention Center, a conspiracy that involved dozens of defendants, including gang members and two dozen jailers.
Tavon White and other BGF leaders and members jailed at the Detention Center were involved with and often directed the smuggling of contraband into the Center, including cell phones, tobacco and drugs, through jailers, who received payments, gifts or a share of the profits, according to officials.
According to her plea, these are the facts and circumstances involving this case:
- Kimberly Dennis worked as a Correctional Officer at Baltimore City Detention Center from 2006 to 2013.
- She entered into personal and sexual relationships with two inmates who were members of the Black Guerilla Family or “BGF.”
- Dennis smuggled contraband, including marijuana, tobacco and prescription pills, into BCDC on behalf of BGF inmates, who would then sell that contraband to other BCDC inmates who were members of BGF.
- Allison admitted she also smuggled contraband, including prescription pills and marijuana, into the Detention Center for eventual distribution by inmates with the BGF.
- Dennis and Allison were aware of the inmates’ BGF affiliation and assisted in furthering the racketeering enterprise.
- Dennis and Allison worked with other CO’s to assist in the smuggling and were aware that other co-defendants and correctional officers also smuggled contraband and were involved in sexual relationships.
Forty of the 44 defendants charged in the racketeering conspiracy have been convicted, including 24 correctional officers.
Thirty-five defendants pleaded guilty; five defendants were convicted after trial. Three defendants were acquitted and one defendant died.
Inmate Tavon White, a/k/a Bulldog and Tay, age 37, of Baltimore was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
According to court documents, the Black Guerilla Family, a violent prison gang, has been the dominant gang at the Baltimore Detention Center and in several connected facilities, including the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Center, the Women’s Detention Center, which houses many men, and in the Jail Industries Building.