Ten individuals from Pennsylvania and Arizona have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on racketeering charges connected to alleged criminal activity at Cambria County Prison. The indictment, unsealed on July 28, 2025, accuses the defendants of bribery conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
The named defendants are Lakesha Stith of Johnstown; Ashley Aguilar of Phoenix; Mikal Davis (incarcerated at Indiana County Jail); James Johnson-Ross of Altoona; Marcos Monarrez Jr. (incarcerated at FDC Philadelphia); Jessica Niebauer of Altoona; Monique Valencia of Phoenix; Blake Young (incarcerated at SCI Laurel Highlands); Asiah Young-Atwell of Johnstown; and Carlos Zamora (incarcerated at Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.
According to the indictment, from July 2023 through December 19, 2023, several defendants allegedly participated in racketeering activities inside Cambria County Prison. Stith and Young-Atwell—employed as a correctional officer and medical staff nurse—are accused of accepting bribes from inmates to smuggle contraband into the facility. Items reportedly included synthetic cannabinoids such as K2, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Suboxone strips, cell phones, security tools, and cigarettes.
Prosecutors allege that Stith and Young-Atwell hid contraband in lunch bags or containers to bypass screening systems. They then delivered these items to various locations within the prison—including private medical examination rooms without cameras or pre-arranged stash spots like storage closets—for later retrieval by inmates. The indictment also alleges that both staff members provided confidential information about planned cell searches and had inappropriate personal relationships with some inmates.
Inmates allegedly used smuggled phones to coordinate trafficking operations with Stith, Young-Atwell, and outside contacts including Aguilar, Niebauer, and Valencia. These outside contacts are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering related to the scheme. Contraband items were sold for significant profit within the prison system—cell phones for an average price of $10,000 each and Suboxone strips ranging from $75 up to $250.
“It is extremely dangerous when individuals employed within our prison systems choose to abuse their authority at the expense of the safety and well-being of inmates they are charged with overseeing,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Not only did the correctional officer and medical staff member in this case engage in inappropriate personal relations with inmates and accept bribes for sneaking contraband into the prison, which the defendant inmates then sold to others at a substantial profit, but they also provided confidential information about planned inmate cell searches and other internal security matters. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that this criminal abuse of trust is prosecuted regardless of whether those committing the acts are inside or outside of the confines of the prison.”
“Today’s RICO Indictment underscores the critical importance of our concerted efforts to protect both public and inmate safety,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “This investigation has revealed the significant threat posed by transnational criminal organizations within our correctional facilities. The successful outcome of this operation is directly attributable to the effective interagency cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The inherent challenges of bringing RICO cases to trial highlight the exceptional skill and dedication of our investigators and prosecutors. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and ensuring the security of our communities.”
“Prisons have unique security challenges that are complex and require all involved to act in accordance with the law and procedures,” said Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer. “Inspections and reviews of compliance are an integral part of ensuring the maintenance of security at any prison to ensure the health and safety of inmates and correction officers alike. When it became apparent that certain individuals within the Cambria County Prison were engaging in corrupt activities, prison leadership, the Prison Board, and law enforcement took appropriate steps to contain the problem and worked alongside our federal partners to ensure that these perpetrators of criminal activity were brought to justice. We appreciate the special relationship that we enjoy with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we thank them for their hard work on this matter. This is yet another example of the successes our community experiences when local, state,and federal entities all work together toward a common goal.”
If convicted on all counts under federal law,the defendants face maximum sentences up totwenty years imprisonment,a fine up totwo hundred fifty thousand dollars—or both—with actual sentencing determined by guidelines considering offense severityand prior records.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchonand Shaun Sweeney are prosecutingthe case.Homeland Security Investigations,the FBI,FBI Safe Streets Task Force,Cambria County District Attorney’s Office,and Cambria County Prison ledthe investigation.An indictment is only an accusation,and defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
