Ten Former FCI Dublin Guards Charged in Widespread Sexual Abuse Scandal

Two more former correctional officers, Jeffrey Wilson and Lawrence Gacad, have been charged with sexually abusing female inmates at the now-closed Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, bringing the total number of charged guards to ten. Wilson faces five counts of sexual abuse of a ward and one count of false statements to federal agents, related to abuse that occurred in a medical room in 2022, while Gacad is charged with one count of abusive sexual contact. The prison, closed due to a longstanding culture of sexual abuse and hazardous conditions, has been nicknamed the "rape club" due to the widespread and egregious abuses, including those by high-level staff such as former warden Ray Garcia and chaplain James Highhouse, who have been convicted and sentenced to prison. The investigation has produced multiple convictions and guilty pleas, with ongoing legal proceedings for other accused officers. The scandal has led to numerous lawsuits and a $116 million government settlement with survivors, alongside efforts to reform conditions and oversight at the facility. Federal officials emphasize that such abuse violates the standards expected of Bureau of Prisons employees, with Director William K. Marshall III condemning those who abuse their positions.