A former corrections counselor at a private prison in Mississippi pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking bribes from prisoners to bring contraband into the prison.

Kellie Fuqua, 57, of Roxie, Mississippi, and a former corrections counselor at the private prison outside of Natchez, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III to accepting bribes from federal prisoners in exchange for introducing contraband into the facility, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge James Boyersmith with the Department of Justice — Office of Inspector General’s Miami Field Office.

Fuqua was charged in a one-count Criminal Information with being a public official receiving money in exchange for providing contraband to federal prisoners.

Fuqua is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Bramlette on October 1, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in Natchez. She faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice – Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dave Fulcher.