Federal prosecutors have charged eight people in what they describe as a wide-ranging bribery and contraband smuggling scheme inside the Citrus County Detention Facility, a privately operated jail that houses both federal and co unty inmates.The indictments, announced Monday by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida, stem from an 18-month investigation into the flow of cell phones, drugs, and other prohibited items inside the facility.This cant be tolerated in any jail facility, U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe said. It brings other law enforcement officers in danger, it brings the public in danger, and it certainly brings the other employees in danger.According to prosecutors, the case involves correctional officers, a nurse, a commissary worker, and others who are accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes to smuggle contraband into the jail.Two correctional officers, Justin Harvey and Dekarri Nixon, are accused of separately accepting $4,000 payments to bring cell phones into the facility. In one case, investigators say the phone was successfully smuggled inside.A third indictment alleges commissary worker Courtney Smith worked with federal inmate Joshua Gallimore to introduce contraband, receiving at least $5,700 in bribes.In a separate case, authorities say nurse Nicole Knecht and former correctional officer Ashley Fraccalvieri were part of a larger scheme to smuggle drugs into the jail. Investigators say Fraccalvieri was stopped with more than 400 oxycodone pills intended for the facility.Sheriff David Vincent said the operation exposed a more profound problem within the jail.What we realized is were only scratching the surface here the deep problem inside of our jail, Vincent said.Officials say bribes ranged from a few thousand dollars for cell phones to nearly $9,000 tied to drug smuggling operations. Investigators also warn more arrests could be coming.This is the top of the iceberg, U.S. Marshal William Berger said. We believe that there will be more arrests occurring.The Citrus County Detention Facility is operated by CoreCivic, a private corrections company, under a long-standing contract with the county. According to Calvin Adams, the chief of staff for the sheriffs office, Citrus County is the only county in Florida to privatize its county jail operations, a decision that dates back to the mid-Nineties.In a statement, CoreCivic said it has a zero-tolerance policy for contraband and noted that none of the individuals charged are currently employed at the facility."When one of our staff members violates policies, procedures or is found to be involved in criminal activity, we take swift action to address these matters," wrote Brian Todd, a public affairs manager for the company.Still, the indictments are now raising new questions about oversight and security at the jail.County Commissioner Diana Finegan said in a statement that the safety and integrity of our detention facility must be beyond question, and added that the allegations demand full accountability.The people of Citrus County deserve confidence that corruption will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held fully accountable under the law, Finegan continued.The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners is expected to discuss both the indictments and the jails operations and safety during a meeting Tuesday.Sheriff Vincent said his office has no role in the countys contract with CoreCivic, but he expects the commission will discuss it in light of the indictments. He added he would be open to his office running the jail if it proves to be the right move for both his agency and the public.Charges in the case carry penalties ranging from five years in prison for conspiracy to up to 20 years for drug-related offenses. ...read more read less