Former Corrections Employee Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing A Detainee

DETROIT - A former federal corrections employee pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually abusing a federal inmate, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Matthew Loux, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General's Midwest Region, and Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI Field Office.

On February 5, 2025, Arthur Foster, 41, of Detroit, Michigan, while serving as a corrections employee at Cherry Health Community Treatment Center, a federal residential reentry center, told Victim Inmate-1 (VI-1) to meet him in the restroom. At the time, VI-1 was under Foster's custodial authority. When she arrived in the restroom, Foster sexually abused her.

Federal law and prison rules mandate a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, sexual assault and harassment in all U.S. correctional facilities.

"This defendant abused the public trust in the worst way by sexually assaulting a person under his care. This is crime hurts the victim, the institution, and our system of justice," stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon.

"Sexual abuse by anyone, especially someone entrusted with the custody and care of inmates, is an intolerable abuse of power," said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. "Today's guilty plea makes clear that this former corrections employee betrayed public trust and violated the most basic standards of human dignity. Our office will continue to pursue every individual who abuses their position to commit acts of sexual violence against those in federal custody."

"Inmates should never experience sexual abuse by corrections employees. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of sexual abuse by federal correctional employees and work with our partners to bring perpetrators to justice," stated DOJ OIG Special Agent in Charge Loux.

The charge, sexual abuse of a detainee, carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years' imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.