From inside prison, federal inmate boasts on Facebook about killing

Inmate records viral Facebook Live from Atlanta's federal pen An Atlanta federal prison inmate’s Facebook Live video went viral after he appeared to admit his involvement in a deadly shooting in Ohio. In the 49-minute video, 30-year-old inmate Joe Fletcher ate snacks, took sips from a can of Pepsi and bragged about being involved in multiple shootings. Fletcher said he plans to stay in Atlanta, become a rapper and rap about Anthony "Champy" Smart, the man who took responsibility for the shooting death

An inmate inside the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta used a cellphone — banned inside the prison — to record a 49-minute-long boast on Facebook Live that he had murdered a man and got away with it.

The social media broadcast is just the latest evidence that security at the federal prison continues to be an on-going problem; a problem that prison officials have not responded to publicly or addressed inside the prison.

Earlier this week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution obtained video and photos from an inmate inside the federal prison camp, which is adjacent to the prison, showing a raucous New Year's Eve party inside the camp. The party included booze that had been smuggled in. Early last year, the AJC published several articles about inmates at the minimum-security prison camp cutting through chain-link fences so they could fetch drugs, alcohol, takeout and cellphones to bring back to other inmates.

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Neither the Bureau of Prisons in Washington nor the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta responded to questions this week about steps being taken to stop the flow of cell phones or any staffing changes that might be made as a result of the contraband discovered inside. The current warden at USP Atlanta, Darrin Harmon, only arrived four months ago, replacing Darlene Drew who suddenly retired amid frequent reports of inmates leaving the prison camp at will and returning with banned items.

But the video that inmate Joe Fletcher broadcast came from inside the prison adjacent to the “camp” — the prison is supposedly more secure and surrounded by a 40-foot-high concrete wall.

Fletcher, who is sentenced to seven months in prison for violating his probation for a conviction on illegally possessing a firearm, posted his video Saturday, claiming he was responsible for a murder that someone else was convicted for carrying out.

“Everybody knows I did it. Everybody. Yea,” he said about the 2010 shooting death of 19-year-old LaDonte Smith, whom he called “Tay.”

Anthony Smart, who is nicknamed “Champy,” pleaded guilty to attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter and is serving a 17-year sentence.

Fletcher said on the video that he would stay in Atlanta when he is released in mid May and planned to start a career in rap music. He said he would rap about his violent life in Akron as well as Smith and Smart.

“If it weren’t for Champy, I’d have a life sentence right now,” Fletcher said. “You think I’m not about to let the world know who that man is?”

According to the Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com, former Akron Police Chief James Nice has called Fletcher “one of Akron’s most dangerous individuals” who had been implicated in several violent crimes there.

“Who done more shootings than me who’s still alive?” Fletcher said on the video, laughing.

The Bureau of Prisons said it would look into the incident involving Fletcher.

"And we will take action based on our findings, including referring for prosecution, if needed," the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement emailed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The FBI investigated the many escapes from the prison camp last year as well as the marketing of cell phones inside Georgia prisons, but a spokesman declined to say if the agency was looking into the circumstances of the Fletcher video shot inside the U.S. Penitentiary. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta did not respond when asked for comment.

Prosecutors in Ohio said they are reviewing Fletcher’s possible involvement in Smith’s death.

“We have reached out to LaDonte’s family and discussed the situation with them,” said Summit County Prosecuor Sherri Bevan Walsh. “This is a difficult time for the family with memories from seven years ago resurfacing. Our goal has always been to bring justice.”

Vance Bryant, president of Local 1145 of the Council of Prison Locals which represents federal correctional officers, said while the video might be entertaining, the working conditions inside the massive prison in Atlanta are dangerous, primarily because of the lack of staff.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice, which includes the Bureau of Prisons, notified the institutions that a total of 6,000 positions out of 37,000 needed to be cut by March 1, according to Bryant. There are 96 vacant positions — 50 of them for correctional officers and 46 support positions at USP Atlanta. He said 59 of the vacant jobs now cannot be filled and more staffing cuts may be coming.

Asked about the prevalence of cell phones in the federal prison, Bryant said, “I would attribute that to staffing.” Cell phones are prohibited in prison because inmates have been known to use them to continue their criminal activities and to contact witnesses.

“When you’re so short, it’s bound to happen” Bryant said. “It doesn’t appear to me that the DOJ makes a priority of safety and security.”