Press Release
Contact:
Kaye Hooker
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2406
DRUG TREATMENT CENTER EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PRISON
FOR PUBLIC CORRUPTION FELONY OFFENSE
FRIDAY, March 13, 2009 -
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Amanda Winter, 23, of Lansing, was sentenced to a term of
thirteen months’ incarceration for her role in a public corruption case, U.S. Attorney Donald A.
Davis announced today.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney, who presided over the sentencing, described Ms. Winter’s conduct as “egregious in undermining an important function for the federal courts.” Ms. Winter, at her guilty plea, had admitted that for almost a year she had thrown out positive drug tests for released federal prisoners who were serving supervised release terms in the Lansing area. Ms. Winter was an employee at the Insight Recovery Center of Lansing, Michigan, at the time. She agreed to accept bribes in the form of cash and/or marijuana from federal prisoners in return for her disposing of preliminary drug tests which showed positive results. Ms. Winter admitted at her plea that her conduct undermined the federal court’s efforts to rehabilitate offenders and to protect the public. Even though she had no prior criminal convictions, the judge stated that a term of incarceration was needed to deter other persons who might consider engaging in similar conduct. Because she is pregnant with her first child, the judge granted her a delayed reporting date in September 2009, to begin her prison sentence after the birth of her child.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended FBI Special Agent Christina Kleinpaste and Resident Agent in Charge Rodney Charles for their work in the case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. MacDonald.
END
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March 13, 2009