Kitchen Supervisor Set to Appear in Court for Actions Related to Prohibited Relationship with Federal Inmate

LAREDO, Texas - A federal grand jury sitting in Laredo has indicted a 51-year-old Laredo resident for making a false statement and providing contraband in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Oralia Aparicio July 2, 2019. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga at 9:00 a.m. today.

Aparicio was employed by GEO Group Inc. as a Kitchen Supervisor. According to the indictment, she engaged in a prohibited relationship with a federal inmate over a period of several months at the Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo. GEO is a Florida-based company that contracts with the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee to operate private corrections facilities. 

Aparicio allegedly made false representations in order to avoid detection. The charges allege she contributed money to and placed orders on the commissary account of a federal inmate with whom she was engaged in a prohibited romantic relationship. Aparicio also violated federal law when she provided the inmate with contraband items, such as a prescription medication, over-the counter medicine, a nasal inhaler and photographs of herself, according to the indictment.

If convicted, Aparicio could face up to five years imprisonment as well as a $250,000 maximum possible fine. 

The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sebastian Edwards is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.