Oklahoma's newly appointed attorney general, in conjunction with other leading prosecutors throughout the nation, is appealing to Congress to pass a law that would authorize the legal obstruction of cellphone signals within state prisons.
In his statement to The Oklahoman, Attorney General Gentner Drummond highlighted the existence of criminal enterprises operating within prison walls. He underscored the urgent need for law enforcement to have access to appropriate tools, urging Congress to swiftly address this problem.
Drummond joined 21 other attorneys general last week in a letter urging Congress to pass ''meaningful" legislation allowing states to jam cellphones at prisons.
During the meeting with congressional leaders on Wednesday, the prosecutors revealed that inmates are utilizing contraband cell phones to coordinate acts of murder, riots, drug deals, fraud, and numerous other illegal activities. At present, these cell phones remain unblockable, posing an imminent threat to public safety.
Cellphones used to direct drug rings from inside prisons, DOJ says
In light of the statistics released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the most recent effort to amend the law has gained momentum, highlighting the severity of the situation in Oklahoma.
In a news release on Friday, the U.S. attorney from Oklahoma City highlighted that even while incarcerated, state inmates affiliated with four separate criminal organizations were able to gain access to contraband cell phones. This enabled them to continue directing their drug trafficking and violent networks by coordinating with individuals outside the prison walls.
“Now, 275 dangerous criminals have been held accountable, more than a half-ton of poisonous drugs and 393 firearms have been removed from the streets, and $1.3 million in cash has been taken away from drug traffickers," U.S. Attorney Bob Troester said about the results of the drug prosecutions.
The news release reveals that thirty offenders were apprehended and incarcerated for their roles in drug rings. Notably, these individuals were actively managing the operations, which were frequently associated with violence, by utilizing smuggled cellphones.
Sentenced in December was Eduardo Rosales, a leader of a ring operated by the Southside Locos gang that distributed methamphetamine from Mexico across the state in 2019. Rosales, 37, of Oklahoma City, was already in state prison at the time for drug offenses.
In December, Chance Alan "Wolfhead" Wilson received his sentencing for the murder of his sister. It was revealed that Wilson, who hails from Purcell and is 38 years old, was involved in running a drug ring while serving his time in state prison. Federal prosecutors have identified him as a key leader of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang.
The court mandated that both individuals be incarcerated for a period of 30 years in a federal prison.
Thousands of cellphones seized from Oklahoma facilities
According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, a combined total of 5,247 cellphones were apprehended within state-run and privately owned correctional facilities during the previous year.
"Despite the presence of cellphone-detecting K-9 units and nonstop intelligence-gathering efforts, some phones still manage to get through. That is a reality faced at all levels, from county jails to federal prisons," said Josh Ward, chief of communications.
According to court records, guards have been involved in smuggling cellphones into Oklahoma prisons. Furthermore, these devices have been illicitly transported by either throwing them over prison fences or utilizing drones.
Oklahoma officials have advocated for fresh approaches to address the problem of contraband cellphones.
In 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt underscored the necessity of a technology-driven solution to address the prevailing issue. This statement was made in response to a series of gang-related fights that occurred in six prisons, ultimately resulting in the implementation of lockdowns.
According to the governor's office, the coordination of the "premeditated acts of violence" was made possible through communication among inmates using contraband cellphones.
During that identical year, U.S. Senator James Lankford voiced his approval for the utilization of jamming signal technology by states.
“Why don't we change that law?” Lankford asked on the Senate floor. “Great question. A question that should have been answered by this body a long time ago, but communications companies and cellphone company lobbyists overwhelmed this body and pushed back and say, ‘Let's study the issue.’”
He said he repeatedly met with leaders at the Federal Communications Commission in an effort to resolve the issue. "Each year ... they say, 'We're studying it.'"
FCC opposes cellphone jamming, citing safety concerns
For a considerable duration, the FCC has consistently expressed its disapproval of permitting the use of jamming wifi technology within state prisons.
According to the FCC, it gives rise to a multitude of problems rather than providing solutions. Moreover, it has the potential to disrupt mobile 911 calls and public safety communication.
The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, in which Lankford played a role as a cosponsor in August, unfortunately did not progress to a vote and eventually met its demise.
In a recent tweet, Lankford emphasized the immediate requirement for states to have the power to jam signals.
A procedure was established by the FCC in 2021, allowing designated prison officials to make official requests to wireless providers for the deactivation of cell signals, without the necessity of obtaining a court order, on a one-by-one basis.
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