Former federal correctional officer sentenced for sneaking phones, alcohol into Loop detention center

Michael A. Hill, 35, will serve a one-month prison sentence for smuggling cell phones, cigarettes and alcohol into the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Hill, who had worked as a MCC Correctional Officer until his March 2005 arrest, was also convicted of possessing marijuana with the intent to sell it.

From about February 2004 to March 2005, Hill conspired with three unnamed persons to smuggle banned items to prison inmates being held at the South Loop detention center, according to court documents, . Hill distributed these goods to an MMC inmate who then sold the items to other prisoners. In the case of the cell phones, Hill netted $1,500 for each handset sold, according to court documents.

Hill was arrested on March 10, 2005 when he met an individual at an Elgin gas station who was secretely cooperating with federal authorities. There he obtained a cellular phone which he intended to smuggle into the MCC, a camera, $2,000 in cash and 418 grams of marijuana.

He pleaded guilty to these charges last February. Hill was originally charged with smuggling cell phones, marijuana, cigarettes, seafood including shrimp and alcohol—whiskey, brandy, and beer.

During his sentencing, Hill spoke only momentarily, reminding U.S. District Judge David H. Coar that he had four children to support.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy L. Miller called Hill’s acts corrupt, saying as a public employee Hill had violated the public’s trust and “undermined people’s faith” in correctional facilities.

Hill currently works for a trucking company. He started as a correctional officer at the MCC in 2000 and before that, he worked as an Illinois correctional officer at the Stateville Correctional Center.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hill was sentenced to five months home detention. He is scheduled to report to prison March 19.