Five NY jail workers charged in bribery scheme that included corrections officers: prosecutors

A crew of Westchester County Jail workers – including corrections officers and commissary workers – have been slapped with bribery charges in a jailhouse crackdown, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Two officers and three former jail employees – a guard and two civilian commissary workers – were charged with third-degree bribe receiving on Tuesday and released on desk-appearance tickets pending arraignment on June 20, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said in an email to The Post.

The suspects hit with charges include corrections officers Peter Cumberbatch and Sharia Smythe, according to sources. The others were not immediately identified.

They could not be reached for comment and officials at the Westchester County Corrections Officer Benevolent Association did not immediately respond to calls on Wednesday.

Officials did not provide further details of the alleged crimes.

In a statement to The Post, Westchester County Corrections Commissioner Joe Spano thanked District Attorney Mimi Rocah and her staff for cracking the case.

“It’s obviously very upsetting to learn that some of our employees made conscious decisions to engage in criminal activity that compromised the safety of our staff and the individuals in our care,” Spano said.

“The involved correction officers not only violated their oath of office and the trust we put in them. They also tarnished the reputations of all honest and dedicated correction officers,” he added.

“These arrests should serve as a strong warning to any correction agency employee who is contemplating engaging in criminal activity, you will be found out and you will be prosecuted.”