Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill Explained

Prison Name:Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill
Location:Butler Township,
Schuylkill County,
near Gordon, Pennsylvania
Status:Operational
Classification:Medium-security (with minimum-security prison camp)
Population:1,330 (340 in prison camp)
Managed By:Federal Bureau of Prisons
Warden:Scott Finley

The Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill (FCI Schuylkill) is a medium-security United States federal prison for male inmates in Pennsylvania. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. The facility has an adjacent minimum-security satellite prison camp which also houses male offenders.

FCI Schuylkill is located in north-central Schuylkill County, 46 miles north the state capital of Harrisburg, and 175 miles north of Washington, D.C.[1]

History

On April 22, 1987, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that a $40 million medium-security federal prison housing 500 to 600 inmates would be built in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The project was expected to create 250 new prison jobs and an estimated 144 non-prison jobs. Various politicians, including US Senators Arlen Specter and John Heinz, and economic development groups such as the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, had lobbied vigorously for the project for three years.[2]

Notable Inmates

Current

width=13%Inmate Namewidth=9%Register Numberwidth=5%Photowidth=24%Statuswidth=54%Details
Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa53546-053Serving a life sentence.Former gas station magnate, who was convicted of racketeering and multiple murders.
James Coonan13874-054<-- Deleted image removed: -->Serving a 75-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2030.Leader of the Westies, an organized crime outfit which dominated the Hell's Kitchen area of New York City over a 20-year period; convicted in 1988 of seven murders, as well as kidnapping, extortion, gambling and drug dealing in aid of racketeering.[3] [4]
John Stanfa18048-037Serving a life sentence.Former Boss of the Philadelphia Crime Family; convicted in 1995 of racketeering and conspiracy charges in connection with multiple murders and kidnappings, as well as extortion and illegal gambling.[5]
James Ida43064-054Serving a life sentence. Currently at FMC Devens.Former New York mobster and consigliere for Genovese Crime Family boss Liborio Bellomo; convicted in 1997 of murdering Antonio Dilorenzo and Ralph DeSimone and defrauding charities involved in the Feast of San Gennaro.[6]

Former

width=13%Inmate Namewidth=9%Register Numberwidth=5%Photowidth=24%Statuswidth=54%Details
Larry Lawton52224-004Held for pre-sentencing. Held in the carrot unit. Faced life but actually 85 years if convicted. After sentencing, he was transferred to USP Lewisburg, a then-high security prison.Lawton gained notoriety for committing a string of jewelry store robberies along the Atlantic Seaboard prior to his arrest in 1996. He spent eleven years in prison, and once released, began a career as a motivational speaker, life coach, and author.
Dwight Grant57613-066 Released from custody in 2014; served a 2-year sentence.[7] American rap artist known as Beanie Sigel; pleaded guilty in federal court to tax evasion in 2011 for failing to pay $728,536 in taxes; pleaded guilty in state court to illegally possessing Percocet in 2013.[8] [9]
Robert Mericle15135-067Released from custody in 2015; served a 1-year sentence.[10] Developer of two for-profit juvenile prisons in Pennsylvania; pleaded guilty in 2009 to failing to report a felony for his role in the "Kids for Cash Scandal", in which he bribed two juvenile court judges in order to secure lucrative public contracts for his facilities.[11]
Chip Skowron64963-054Released from custody in 2015; served a 5-year sentence.[12] [13] American hedge fund portfolio manager convicted of insider trading.[14]
Joseph Nacchio33973-013Served a 6 year sentence; released in 2013CEO of Qwest who was convicted of insider trading.[15]
Mark Abene32109-054Served a 1 year sentence; released in 1994Computer hacking

See also

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: FCI Schuylkill. Federal Bureau of Prisons.
  2. http://articles.mcall.com/1987-04-23/news/2579958_1_state-prison-federal-prison-schuylkill-county 40-million Federal Prison To Be Built In Schuylkill - Morning Call
  3. News: 7 Convicted of Racketeering, 1 Acquitted, in Westies Trial . The New York Times . Arnold H. . Lubasch . 25 February 1988.
  4. News: French. Howard W.. 7 Westies Given Sentences Of Up to 75 Years in Prison. 16 March 2013. The New York Times. May 12, 1988.
  5. News: Raab. Selwyn. Jury Convicts Philadelphia's Mob Leader. 16 March 2013. The New York Times. November 22, 1995.
  6. News: Hoffman. Jan. Genovese Family Counselor Is Convicted of Racketeering. 27 February 2017. The New York Times. April 24, 1997.
  7. Web site: Muhammad. Latifah. Report: Beanie Sigel Released From Prison. BET. Black Entertainment Television LLC. 29 August 2015. August 14, 2014.
  8. Web site: Beanie Sigel Slapped With Two-Year Sentenced for Tax Evasion. Rolling Stone. 25 March 2013. July 13, 2012.
  9. Web site: Beanie Sigel Sentenced for Drug Possession. Rolling Stone. 25 March 2013. March 7, 2013.
  10. News: Robert Mericle released from federal prison. 1 October 2015. The Times-Tribune (Northeast Pennsylvania). April 30, 2015.
  11. News: Janoski. Dave. Mericle will plead guilty in kids-for-cash scandal. 11 December 2015. The Citizens' Voice. August 14, 2009.
  12. Web site: Former FrontPoint manager, out of jail, wants to run prison ministry. 7 August 2017. Reuters. Pierson, Brendan.
  13. Web site: 5-Year Sentence for Insider. Chad. Bray. 19 November 2011. The Wall Street Journal.
  14. Web site: How Companies Can Sue Defendants in Insider Trading Cases. Peter J.. Henning. The New York Times; DealBook. 22 January 2013.
  15. Web site: Ex-Qwest CEO to report to Pennsylvania prison. Reuters. March 4, 2009. August 1, 2024.