A Turkish lawyer is alleged in court papers to have joined a plot to corrupt a prison guard into smuggling cellphones and alcohol to a Turkish gold trader who was awaiting trial.
That's according to charges lodged Thursday against Manhattan federal prison guard Victor Casado and comments by a lawyer who represented the trader, Reza Zarrab.
Zarrab eventually pleaded guilty and became a cooperator in an Iran sanctions case that strained relations between Turkey and the United States.
He testified at the trial of a Turkish banker that he paid $45,000 in bribes to a guard. He also testified he helped Iran evade U.S. economic sanctions with billions of dollars in proceeds from oil and gas sales.
Casado would smuggle cellphones, alcohol, over-the-counter medications, and food to Zarrab in exchange for the bribes. The money was given to Casado by non-incarcerated relatives or associates of the Zarrab, either in cash or by wire transfer.
Casado's lawyer declined comment on charges his client accepted over $45,000 in bribes.
