WAUPUN, Wis. (AP) — A former employee at a troubled Wisconsin prison has pleaded guilty to smuggling contraband into the maximum-security prison that's been the subject of a federal investigation into alleged smuggling involving employees.
William Lee Homan, 47, of Fox Lake, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, according to court records.
Homan was working as a facilities repair worker at the Waupun Correctional Institution when he smuggled items, including cellphones, tobacco products and controlled substances, into the prison in exchange for money, the Appleton Post-Crescent reported, citing court records.
A message seeking comment was left Friday morning for Homan’s attorney by The Associated Press.
Between July 2022 and September 2023, Homan received 125 payments totaling more than $53,000 from prisoners, former prisoners and “associates” of prisoners, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
According to court records, people known to prisoners would send money to Homan via Cash App, and Homan would hide the contraband in his pants when arriving to work at the prison about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northeast of Madison.
Homan’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
In March, Gov. Tony Evers' office said federal authorities were investigating an apparent smuggling operation involving employees at the prison. At that time, the state Department of Corrections said the probe had resulted in the suspension of nearly a dozen Waupun Correctional Institution employees.
The federal probe came amid a string of deaths at the prison, which is Wisconsin’s oldest maximum-security prison. Five inmates at Waupun have died since June 2023. Two killed themselves, one died of a fentanyl overdose, one died of a stroke, and one died of malnutrition and dehydration.
Prosecutors charged the prison’s former warden, Randall Hepp, and eight other Waupun staff members in June with misconduct in connection with the stroke and malnutrition deaths.
Inmates held at Waupun have filed a class action lawsuit alleging mistreatment, including not having access to health care.
FILE - The Waupun Correctional Institution is seen Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Waupan, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — Haynes King threw a go-ahead 4-yard scoring pass to Jamal Haynes early in the fourth quarter and Georgia Tech overcame two touchdown passes by Maalik Murphy to beat Duke 24-14 on Saturday night, handing the Blue Devils their first loss.
Sahmir Hagans gave Duke a 14-10 lead on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Murphy late in the third quarter.
Haynes, who ran for 128 yards on 19 carries, capped a 14-play drive which covered 85 yards by catching the soft pass in the right side of the end zone for a 17-14 lead. King padded the lead with a 9-yard scoring pass to Eric Singleton Jr. with 6:36 remaining.
Georgia Tech (4-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) dominated the first half and then recovered after blowing a 10-0 lead.
Duke (5-1, 1-1) failed to extend its best start to a season since winning its first seven games in 1994.
Haynes matched his career high on his 22nd birthday and led the Yellow Jackets' dominance on the ground.
Haynes was presented a birthday cake on the field after the game and gave credit to his offensive line for his big night.
“We came out and did what we have to do,” Haynes said. “We have a great mentality in our running back room and I have trust in all our backs. ... A big shoutout to the offensive line.”
Georgia Tech outrushed Duke 245-74 and claimed a 412-279 advantage in total yards. Chad Alexander added 59 yards.
“The tailbacks going for as many yards as they did was ultimately the telling stat,” said Duke coach Manny Diaz.
Diaz said the Blue Devils faded after surging to a 14-10 lead.
“Once we got going we looked like we were going to be hard to stop the rest of the day,” Diaz said. “We just could not keep the momentum going.”
King was busy as a runner and passer, often taking off on keepers. He had 12 carries for 30 yards while completing 23 of 31 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Zach Pyron added a 2-yard scoring run to cap the Yellow Jackets' opening drive.
Murphy passed for more than 200 yards for the sixth consecutive game, completing 18 of 31 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Ahmari Harvey ended Duke's last possession with an interception with 11 seconds remaining.
Duke's Todd Pelino was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt with 3:58 remaining.
Duke: Murphy suffered his first loss after posting a 7-0 record, including two wins at Texas before his transfer. Murphy had too little help from the Blue Devils' running game. Star Thomas had 14 carries for only 48 yards.
Georgia Tech: King's quick and mostly accurate passes were effective when paired with Haynes' strong runs. Jordan van den Berg had a third-down sack of Murphy late in the first half to take the Blue Devils out of field goal position and added another tackle for loss. The Yellow Jackets improved to 11-1 following a loss under coach Brent Key.
Duke: Hosts Florida State on Oct. 18. Clemson defeated Florida State 29-13 on Saturday.
Georgia Tech: Visits North Carolina on Oct. 12. The Tar Heels fell to 3-3 and 0-2 in the ACC with a 34-24 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) stiff arms Duke Blue Devils linebacker Cameron Bergeron (4) in the first quarter of a football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Zach Pyron (5) celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) runs down the sidelines after a punt return in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Malik Rutherford (8) runs the ball after a catch in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Malik Rutherford (8) breaks a tackle in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) stretches out for a pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
