Federal sweep seizes drugs, weapons at Brooklyn jail with history of violence

November 5, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where a recent federal sweep uncovered drugs, weapons, and electronic devices amid heightened concerns over violence and security issues. Photo: Yuki Iwamura/AP

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Federal authorities seized drugs, homemade weapons and electronic devices in a recent multi-agency sweep at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), a facility plagued by violence and safety issues, officials confirmed Friday.

The Oct. 28 operation involved the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice’s inspector general, and other federal, state and local agencies, as reported by the Associated Press. Officials described the sweep as part of a broader initiative to improve conditions at MDC rather than a response to any specific threat. Among the 1,200 detainees is Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, though authorities clarified the operation was unrelated to his case.

MDC has faced heightened scrutiny following two fatal stabbings this summer, according to AP reports. The jail, long criticized for security lapses, saw murder charges filed against five inmates in connection with the deaths. Additional charges against other inmates — and even a guard — have underscored the jail’s ongoing safety and staffing challenges.

Overcrowding, contraband smuggling and insufficient staffing have become defining issues at MDC. Advocates, detainees and judges have voiced persistent concerns over poor conditions, frequent lockdowns, and instances of alleged misconduct by staff and inmates alike.

Conditions have grown so severe that some federal judges now avoid sending defendants to MDC, citing safety risks. In one recent case, a judge sentenced a 75-year-old man to house arrest instead of MDC, specifically referencing the jail’s harsh environment. In response, the Bureau of Prisons has temporarily paused the transfer of newly convicted inmates to the facility as it addresses ongoing issues.

Officials say efforts to improve conditions are underway, with federal authorities and advocates closely monitoring the facility. Yet, the grim reality inside MDC remains evident.

In June, 38-year-old Uriel Whyte was fatally stabbed in the carotid artery during an altercation, leading to murder charges against two inmates, Andrew Simpson and Devone Thomas.

Just weeks later, in July, 36-year-old Edwin Cordero was killed after being stabbed in the heart. Cordero, who was serving time for an assault tied to a prior wire fraud conviction, was attacked in a separate incident. Three inmates — Jamaul Aziz, James Bazemore, and Alberto Santiago — were subsequently charged in connection with his death.