A lieutenant at the Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, Colorado, is facing federal charges after investigators say he accepted money in exchange for smuggling contraband to inmates.
Allegations and Investigation
According to court records, Michael Popma worked as a Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service Lieutenant at the Federal Correctional Institution, where he supervised both staff and inmates. Records allege that Popma agreed to bring prohibited items into the Federal Prison Camp, a low-security facility, in exchange for cash. Court documents say the contraband included vaping devices, cell phones, and alcohol.
Popma, along with an inmate and their family member who are not identified in records, allegedly provided inmates “prohibited objects” beginning in September 2024 through around December 2024. Within those four months, records indicate that Popma received around $15,500 and six bottles of alcohol from the inmate’s family member as payment.
During that time period, court records say that with the help of Popma, around 123 cellular telephones, 415 electronic nicotine vaporizers, and 274 bottles of alcohol were introduced into FPC.
Response from the Federal Correctional Complex
The Federal Correctional Complex says they take their “duty seriously to protect the individuals entrusted to our custody as well as maintain the safety of correctional staff and the community. Allegations of staff misconduct are taken seriously and, consistent with national policy, referred for investigation if warranted.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
