Source: Darrin Klimek / Getty
According to authorities, on Monday two former North Carolina correctional officers were indicted after one of the officers allegedly smuggled a cell phone to the inmate responsible for the kidnapping of Frank Janssen in 2014. 29 year old Jason Dean and 31 year old Gregory Dustin Gouldman, who worked at the Polk Correctional Institution, were both charged with one count of extortion under color of official right.
On top of that Dean was also charged with making a false statement to the FBI and one count of lying before a federal grand jury. John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI had this to say about the suspects:
“These men put many lives at risk for their own profit. They were entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that North Carolina’s convicted criminals serve their sentences. Instead, this type of conduct made it possible for a dangerous gang member to reach outside of prison walls which lead to the kidnapping of Mr. Frank Janssen. The FBI will keep pursuing this case and will not stop until everyone who played a role in this ruthless crime is held accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker, Gouldman was involved in a plot with various prisoners to smuggle tobacco, marijuana, cell phones and batteries in exchange for money. If convicted, both men are looking at a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Dean actually faces a maximum of five years in prison for each additional charge. Investigators say Janssen went on a bike ride in April 2014 and returned home.
His wife then returned home from shopping and found blood outside of their home. Jansen is the father of Wake County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Janssen, who investigators believe was the intended target of the kidnapping.
Colleen Janssen won a conviction against Melton back in October 2012. 49 year old Kelvin Melton, who is serving a life sentence at Polk Correctional Institution in Butner, orchestrated the kidnapping from behind bars.
Melton was indicted along with eight other alleged co-conspirators in the case. Janssen was rescued five days after being kidnapped, during an FBI raid of a southeast Atlanta apartment.
Court documents say just hours prior to his rescue the conspirators sent a text to Melton, saying “we got car, spot, and shovel.”
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