A Cape Coral woman faces five years in a federal prison and is accused of lying about a romantic relationship with an inmate while she was a guard, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez unsealed the indictment charging Heather Lee Kussoff, 31, with making a false statement to a federal law enforcement agency.
According to the indictment, Kussoff worked as a correctional officer at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, north of Orlando. In 2014, she developed a relationship with an inmate.
"In direct violation of her job responsibilities and training, Kussoff corresponded with the inmate in a romantic capacity, shared extensive details of her personal life, and communicated directly with members of the inmate’s family," the indictment states.
When confronted by authorities in March 2015, they said she lied under oath about the relationship and abruptly resigned from the Bureau of Prisons.
This case was investigated by the Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. will prosecute the case.