An indictment was unsealed charging a former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee with sexual acts with an inmate in federal custody.
The indictment alleges that, between June 2023, and August 2023, 22-year-old Kerontrez Lamar Kenon, of Midway, Florida, engaged in sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a correctional officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
“As alleged in the indictment, defendant Kenon exploited his authority as a correctional officer to sexually abuse an adult in custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “As this charge reflects, the Justice Department will hold accountable officials who abuse their authority over those they are sworn to protect. ”
“The sexual abuse of inmates by federal correctional officers is intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida. “This office will vigorously investigate and prosecute any officer who engages in such acts of abuse to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today’s indictment demonstrates the Justice Department Office of the Inspector General’s ongoing commitment to aggressively investigate allegations of sexual abuse of inmates by Correctional Officers,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department.
If convicted, Kenon faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Steer and James McCain for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons said they are committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law, adding that the numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the Department’s reform efforts.
