Captain of NYC Prison Guards Indicted for Alleged Extortion, Overtime Fraud

The Department of Justice brought an indictment on June 10 against a New York City Department of Corrections (DOC) captain for alleged extortion and overtime fraud.

Latanya Brown, 51, of Yonkers, an operations supervisor at the Rikers Island Jail complex, pleaded not guilty to the charges. She has been released after making the $300,000 bail.

Allegedly, Brown used her position to extort money, luxury gifts, and services out of subordinates before agreeing to approve their schedule changes, overtime, and vacation time.

Two subordinates, listed in court documents as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, alleged she told them and other officers to pool their funds to buy her a particular Louis Vuitton bag or else their shift requests and overtime would not be approved. Brown also allegedly extorted employees at DOC to pay her thousands of dollars to get her to sign off on their scheduling requests.

According to court documents, corrections officers reporting to Brown feared she would use her authority to retaliate by reassigning them. Because of her position, many complied with her alleged requests. Brown also allegedly required underlings to drive her to restaurants, bars, and personal appointments, as well as to a Yonkers Casino, often during working hours.

In addition to extortion, Brown was accused of routinely reporting overtime for hours that she did not work. In 2024, her base pay was $125,855, and she also took home more than $231,000 in overtime pay. In 2025, she took home $178,000 in overtime. DOC officers receive time and a half for hours worked above 40 per week.

According to the indictment, she also often arrived late or left early, such that she failed to complete her scheduled shift. Court files recounted how Brown allegedly reported on Feb. 16, 2024, that she arrived at 5:00 a.m. and worked until 7:31 p.m. However, records showed she did not arrive until 12:49 p.m. that day. A similar example of overtime abuse was cited for April 23, 2024, when she arrived at 1:09 p.m. but allegedly reported arriving at 5:00 a.m. at Rikers Island and working until 9:31 p.m.

The department of corrections said that Brown has been suspended for 30 days and, after that, her duties will be changed, depending on the outcome of her case.

The DOC said in a statement that the allegations “run counter to everything this Department stands for. The vast majority of our staff serve with professionalism and integrity every day.” Further, the department said it would support efforts to “identify misconduct and ensure that those who violate the law are held accountable.”

In December 2018, Brown was transferred from her post as a supervisor at Manhattan Criminal Court after subordinates complained about daily harassment, cursing, and physical threats. After the story of her work performance and transfer was reported in the New York Daily News, she sued her superiors and subordinates at the DOC for improperly releasing her personal information.

A judge later threw out her civil lawsuit against the city and her superiors.

Brown started with the department of corrections in 2001, and in 2007 was promoted to captain, according to the court filing.

If convicted, Brown could be sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison.

The Epoch Times reached out to Brown’s attorney but did not receive a response by time of publication.