Federal investigators conducted a search at the troubled Federal Correctional Institution at Dublin in California on Monday, seizing computers and documents as part of an ongoing sexual abuse investigation. The search marked an escalation in the yearslong probe that had previously resulted in charges against a former warden and other employees.
More than a dozen FBI agents were present at the facility, located about 21 miles east of Oakland. The warden, an associate warden, and a captain were reportedly removed from their positions in connection with the investigation.
The FBI confirmed its presence at the prison but refrained from providing specific details about the operation.
FCI Dublin has been under scrutiny following revelations of a culture of abuse and cover-ups that persisted for years. An investigation in 2021 uncovered these issues, prompting increased oversight from Congress and commitments from the federal Bureau of Prisons to address the problems and foster a new culture at the prison.
Several employees, including former warden Ray Garcia, have faced charges related to the sexual abuse of inmates. Garcia was convicted in 2022 for misconduct that included molesting inmates and coercing them to pose naked in their cells. During his trial, Garcia acknowledged making mistakes but argued that some of his actions, such as taking photos of naked inmates, were part of his official duties to document policy violations.
The scandal at FCI Dublin is just one of the challenges confronting the federal Bureau of Prisons, which is grappling with staffing shortages, security breaches, and incidents of suicide within its facilities.
