NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER CHARGED WITH GANG
ASSAULT FOR ALLEGEDLY ORDERING INMATES ON RIKERS ISLAND TO BEAT
FELLOW DETAINEES AT THE CITY JAIL

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the indictment of a New York City Correction Officer on charges of gang assault and other offenses in connection with a scheme to use inmates to enforce discipline at the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island.

A grand jury indicted Lloyd Nicholson, of the Bronx, on one count of Gang Assault in the 2nd degree, three counts of Assault in the 2nd degree, three counts of Assault in the 3rd degree, and four counts of Official Misconduct. Nicholson is facing a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if he is convicted of the most serious charge, Gang Assault in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony offense.

Nicholson, a New York City Correction Officer since June 2001, surrendered with his attorney and was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. Nicholson was released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond pending the outcome of his trial.

Nicholson, according to the eleven count indictment, was responsible for assaults on three inmates on two different occasions in May and June of 2007. The grand jury charged Nicholson with “acting in concert” in causing physical injury to two inmates on June 10, 2007 by ordering six other inmates to beat them. One of the two victims sought medical attention and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment of a collapsed lung. It is also alleged that on an earlier occasion between May 18 and May 25, 2007, Nicholson personally assaulted a third inmate with a wooden stick.

The six inmates who allegedly administered the beatings in the June 10, 2007 incident were indicted last October on charges of Gang Assault in the 2nd degree, Assault in the 2nd degree and Assault in the 3rd degree.

These indictments are the result of an investigation by the New York City Department of Investigations and the Inspector General for the Department of Correction. The investigation uncovered a systematic program allegedly run by Nicholson, in which he would use a select group of inmates to maintain order and enforce discipline. The group of inmates would enforce rules of conduct established by Nicholson in exchange for preferential treatment, which included allowing them to extort commissary and telephone privileges as well as personal property from other inmates. It is alleged that Nicholson benefitted by not having to constantly monitor his post during his overnight tour of duty.

District Attorney Johnson thanked Department of Investigations Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn, Department of Correction Inspector General Meera Cattafesta and Investigator Albert Jones of the Inspector General’s Correctional Services Unit for their hard work on this case.

Assistant District Attorney James Cudden of the Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case.