Moshannon Valley Correctional Center or Moshannon Valley Processing Center is an Immigration & Customs Enforcement building located in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, privately operated by the GEO Group under contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It has a capacity of 1,878.[1] It originally closed on March 31, 2021 after the Federal Bureau of Prisons decided to not exercise the contract renewal option.[2] The facility opened back up in November 2021 after receiving a contract with ICE.[3]
 | |
| Location | 555 Geo Drive, Decatur Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°55′22″N 78°14′30″W / 40.92266°N 78.24164°W |
| Status | Open |
| Security class | Immigration detention facility |
| Capacity | 1,878 |
| Opened | November 2021 |
| Managed by | GEO Group |
History
editThe facility began accepting prisoners in April 2006 [4] and continued to expand up until originally closing in 2021. At opening it was the first privately owned prison in Pennsylvania.[4] It housed low-security, nonviolent criminal aliens who had less than 5 years on their remaining sentences.
In September 2013 the future of Moshannon Valley's continued operation was said to hinge on a federal contractual decision between this facility and the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, privately run by the Corrections Corporation of America near Youngstown, Ohio.[5]
In December 2014 Moshannon Valley's contract was renewed by the Federal government for 5 years, with 5 one year options after that for a total of 10 years.[6]
In August 2016, Justice Department officials announced that the FBOP would be phasing out its use of all contracted facilities, on the grounds that private prisons provided less safe and less effective services with no substantial cost savings. The agency expected to allow current contracts on its thirteen remaining private facilities to expire.[7]
In January 2021, it was announced that the Federal Bureau of Prisons had decided to not exercise the contract renewal option for the facility, and would allow the contract to end on March 31, 2021. GEO was expected to market the building to other federal and state agencies.[2] Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership President Bryan Bennett said the closing was the worst economical news for the area in years, saying "The upcoming closure of the GEO Moshannon Valley facility is the worst economic news that we have received in our region in over twenty years. MVEDP believes it essential that local leaders now work with GEO Group representatives to determine if there will be any reuse opportunities."[8]
In August 2021, it was revealed that the GEO Group had contracted the building to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to become a detention facility.[3] Interest in the facility from ICE came when they lost a major contract with York County Jail last year. On September 28, 2021, the Clearfield County Commissioners approved a five-year contract that began in November 2021 and will run through November 2026.[9] The facility will see some upgrades such as, and
new 'no-climb' perimeter fencing. Local officials predict approximately 200 jobs were restored to the area with the potential for an additional 100 if the facility reaches capacity. Once released, detainees will be taken to either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia for travel to their final destination. The detainees will spend an average of 2–4 weeks at the institution before being relocated.[9]
Notable inmates
edit| Inmate Name | Register Number | Status | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Gannon | 86114-083 | Serving a 12-month plus 1 day sentence; released in 2016. | Pleaded guilty in 2015 to and receiving kickback proceeds of nearly US$200,000 while managing US Government contracts in Afghanistan. | |
| David Radler | 18189-424 | Sentenced to 29 months; transferred FCI Ray Brook and then to Canada in September 2008; paroled from Ferndale Institution December 2008.[10] | Pleaded guilty to mail fraud. Former associate of Conrad Black and CEO of Ravelston Corporation. | |
| Kareem Serageldin | 68423-054 | Sentenced on November 22, 2013 to serve 30 months in prison, which he began serving on January 28, 2014; released on March 25, 2016. | Convicted of conspiracy to artificially inflate subprime mortgage bond prices in order to conceal hundreds of millions of dollars in losses in Credit Suisse's mortgage-backed securities portfolio. | |
| George Kubini | 32714-068 | Sentenced on March 31, 2018 to serve 60 months in prison, which he began serving on June 24, 2017; release scheduled on May 20, 2022 after being moved to Pittsburgh RRM due to the closure of MVCC. | Convicted of conspiracy involving crooked mortgage broker companies Pittsburgh Home Loans and Riverside Mortgage, who submitted false loan applications that overstated borrower assets. Also order to pay $862,000 in restitution. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility". geogroup.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "The GEO Group Announces Decision by Federal Bureau of Prisons To Not Renew Its Contract for the Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania". businesswire.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Corcino, Jeff. "Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility to reopen". The Progress. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ a b Bucsko, Mike (April 30, 2006). "Texas firm to operate Pa.'s 1st private prison in Clearfield". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Carroll, Matt (September 22, 2013). "Future of Moshannon Valley prison tied to fight for federal contract". Centre Daily Times. State College, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ Falce, Lori (December 29, 2014). "Contract Renewed For Moshannon". Centre Daily Times. State College, Pennsylvania.
- ^ Zapotosky, Matt (August 18, 2016). "Justice Department says it will end use of private prisons". Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
- ^ Noal, Julie (March 17, 2021). "Lawmakers, leaders discuss future of GEO Moshannon Valley". The Progress News. Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility to Reopen as ICE Center". GantNews.com. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- ^ Waldie, Paul (December 18, 2008). "Radler plans to pen a 'business primer'; In his first interview since being paroled, the convicted fraudster says he feels no bitterness toward Lord Black". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. pp. A3.