RI Corrections: 2 Staff Arrests and Director Hit With Ethics Violation in One Week

RI Corrections: 2 Staff Arrests and Director Hit With Ethics Violation in One Week

On Tuesday, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections was found to have violated Rhode Island ethics law.

Director Wayne Salisbury agreed to pay an “imposed civil penalty of $200 for violations of the Financial Disclosure mandate.”

The complaint against Salisbury, which was filed by the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, cited Salisbury’s failure to disclose six out-of-state trips paid for by other organizations on his 2023 ethics financial disclosure statement.

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Salisbury was appointed by Governor Dan McKee. The Senate confirmed him by a vote of 32-4 in June of 2024.

Earlier in the day, the Rhode Island State Police disclosed that last week, detectives assigned to the Financial Crimes Unit arrested Tracee Johnson, age 46, of Richard Street in Cranston, for "Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps and Conspiracy."

Johnson is employed by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

 

Bizarre Story Full of Twists and Turns

According to State Police, this investigation revealed that Johnson obtained and used Carlos Rodriguez’s EBT card and PIN for SNAP benefits in the amount of $729.01 from March 25, 2024, to June 22, 2024. 

Records obtained from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections indicate Rodriguez was incarcerated from November 24, 2015, through June 24, 2023. Visitor logs indicate that Johnson visited Rodriguez from 2016 through 2020 for a total of 65 times. Her relationship with Mr. Rodriguez during these visits was listed as both “friend” and “girlfriend.” 

In November of 2023, Rodriguez was identified as a suspect who shot at Johnston Police Officers after a vehicle pursuit and foot pursuit through Johnston and Providence. Rodriguez was not apprehended at the time of this incident. Police developed information indicating that Mr. Rodriguez, who was on probation for previous felony arrests, had fled the state. A national manhunt for Rodriguez was initiated with the assistance of Providence Police, Johnston Police, Rhode Island State Police, and the US Marshal’s Service.

During his time on the run, police learned that Johnson was using Rodriguez’s EBT Card and PIN to make purchases in Rhode Island. In April of 2024, Rodriguez was apprehended in Florida by US Marshals.            

Johnson was arrested outside of Providence Superior Court. She was returned to the State Police Lincoln Barracks, where she declined to be interviewed. She was processed and transported to 6th District Court for arraignment. She was charged with Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps § 40-6-16 and Conspiracy § 11-1-6. She entered no plea and was released on $3,000 personal recognizance after appearing before Associate Judge Stephen M. Isherwood.

Johnson’s next court date is November 15, 2024.

 

Top Official Facing Child Porn Charges

Last Wednesday, GoLocal first unveiled that a top official in the Corrections Department was arrested on child porn charges.

Seth Crosby a top official was arrested by the Rhode Island State Police.

The arrest took place on Wednesday morning. State Police raided his office at the DOC in the late morning.

The investigation into Crosby is tied to electronic sex crimes, according to sources with direct knowledge. According to the State Police, Crosby is charged with two (2) counts of Production or Attempted Production of Child Pornography §11-9-1.3, and one (1) count of Video Voyeurism §11-64-2. 

According to the State Police, the investigation began after law enforcement received information from three minor children concerning Crosby. Following interviews and forensic analyses, an arrest warrant was obtained, and Crosby was taken into custody without incident.

Crosby is one of the top officials in the agency and a close ally to  Salisbury.

“We are not able to comment on personnel matters. Since this issue is under investigation, please direct questions to Rhode Island State Police,” said J.R. Ventura, Chief of Information & Public Relations / Public Information Officer in an email to GoLocal last week.

According to state data and Crosby’s LinkedIn page, he serves as the Deputy Chief - Office of Investigations and Intelligence since March. Prior, he was acting in that role for 11 months.

Before joining the Department of Corrections, he was Human Resources Program Administrator for the RI Department of Administration under both McKee and then-Governor Gina Raimondo. And, he served 16 years as a member of the Johnston Police Department.