WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court yesterday CRAIG LAMONT BUTLER, 36, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox to obtaining contraband while in prison, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1791(a)(1).

On May 8, 2008, a Superseding Criminal Information was filed charging BUTLER. In March, 2007, BUTLER and co-conspirators, while incarcerated at Butner Federal Correctional Institution, arranged to have a firearm smuggled into the correctional facility. The intent was an attempt to have their sentences reduced by alerting authorities to the whereabouts of the weapon and falsely naming other inmates. On April 9, 2006, after burying the firearm, BUTLER and another alerted the guards in the facility and advised them of the location of the gun.

"Fortunately Mr. Butler's plans were foiled and inmates not involved in this event were cleared. Because of this incident, the reverse of the original intent has occurred, and Mr. Butler now faces additional prison time," commented Mr. Holding.

The maximum penalty BUTLER faces is up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years supervised release following his term of confinement.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson served as prosecutor for the government.