SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A guard at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly accepting bribes from an inmate in exchange for contraband, the US Attorney’s office.

Benito Jamar Hugie, 47, is accused of accepting ‘thousands of dollars’ in bribes to smuggle dental molds, jewelry and other items into the San Diego County Jail for 26-year-old inmate Shawn Brown. Among the items Hugie allegedly smuggled into the prison was a custom jeweled dental grill that Brown had ordered from a Houston, Texas jeweler, as well as a smuggled cell phone.

Two others – Brown’s brothers Daejohne Hatcher and Demetrius Warsinger – are also accused of facilitating the bribes.

“Correction officers are supposed to supervise inmates, not collaborate with them on crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “We will hold officers accountable when they sacrifice their own integrity and that of the prison system for a payday.”

Federal authorities’ announcement of the indictment against Hugie included mention of a separate indictment against Brown, who is charged in a separate case with allegedly collecting nearly $700,000 in unemployment benefits. pandemic-related unemployment while in prison.

Prosecutors allege Brown and others used stolen identities to file fraudulent claims with the state Department of Employment Development and received funds intended for people in need of food assistance and/or housing as a result of the pandemic.

Six others are charged with Brown in the fraud case.