Bay Area
Former San Quentin Prison Guard Pleads Guilty in Cellphone Smuggling Operation
Former guard Keith Christopher, Isaiah Wells and Dustin Albini pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and bribery of a public official, according to federal prosecutors. The trio, along with Tanisa Smith-Symes who pleaded guilty earlier to the same charges, carried out a plan to smuggle a total of 25 phones into the prison in 2019 and 2020 for a prisoner identified only as “Inmate 1” in court documents, prosecutors said in a news release Monday.

By Bay City News
A former San Quentin State Prison guard and two others pleaded guilty Sept. 16 to charges in a scheme to smuggle cellphones onto death row, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former guard Keith Christopher, Isaiah Wells and Dustin Albini pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and bribery of a public official, according to federal prosecutors.
The trio, along with Tanisa Smith-Symes who pleaded guilty earlier to the same charges, carried out a plan to smuggle a total of 25 phones into the prison in 2019 and 2020 for a prisoner identified only as “Inmate 1” in court documents, prosecutors said in a news release Monday.
Smith-Symes was in a romantic relationship with the inmate who received the phones so he could sell them to other prisoners.
Prosecutors said she paid bribes of $5,000 and $6,500 to Albini and Wells and that Christopher collected the money and delivered the phones to the inmate.
The defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which carries a 20-year maximum sentence and a $250,000 fine, and two counts of bribery of a public official, which carries a 10-year maximum sentence and a $250,000 fine.
Christopher and Wells are scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 13, 2023, and Albini and Smith-Symes are scheduled for status hearings on Sept. 15, 2023.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of July 9 – 15, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 9 – 15, 2025

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of July 2- 8, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 2 – 8, 2025

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Congress Says Yes to Rep. Simon’s Disability Hiring and Small Biz Support Bill
-
Activism4 weeks ago
OPINION: California’s Legislature Has the Wrong Prescription for the Affordability Crisis — Gov. Newsom’s Plan Hits the Mark
-
Activism4 weeks ago
The Case Against Probate: False Ruling Invalidates Black Professor’s Estate Plan, Ignoring 28-Year Relationship
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Juneteenth: Celebrating Our History, Honoring Our Shared Spaces
-
#NNPA BlackPress4 weeks ago
IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025
-
Antonio Ray Harvey4 weeks ago
Air Quality Board Rejects Two Rules Written to Ban Gas Water Heaters and Furnaces
-
Activism2 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025