ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County Department of Corrections officer faces several charges after an investigation into accusations about her personal relationship with an inmate and a contraband cellphone, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Ericka Koger, who was employed at the Central Florida Reception Center prison in Orlando, was arrested Tuesday after an Office of Inspector General investigation.
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The investigation began in March when Koger's sergeant received information that she was involved in a sexual relationship with an inmate and that she was being paid to help introduce contraband into the prison, the arrest warrant said.
Officials said inmates told them that Koger attempted to raise money for that inmate's legal fund and when they checked the inmate's account, they found he had received a $350 deposit from "Wilma Flinstone." The address and phone number for "Wilma Flinstone" was the same address and phone number as the prison and the amount deposited was the same amount an inmate said Koger had raised for the inmate's defense fund, according to FDC records.
Investigators said they analyzed a contraband cellphone found in the facility and found that it had texted a number listed as Koger's at least 180 times. Koger's contact name was saved as "Cookie," which inmates told investigators was their nickname for Koger.
Inmates who Koger supervised in the prison's garden used the phone to contact Koger, officials said.
In these conversations, Koger told an inmate to change the cellphone's password frequently and to change her contact name from "Cookie" to "Ruby Red" because too many people at the prison knew "Cookie" was her nickname. She also said that the inmate she had a personal relationship with was very jealous if she got close with any of the inmates who worked in the garden, according to the affidavit.
There was also 25 images on the cellphone showing guns, marijuana, drug use within the prison, inmates posing together and contraband packages.
Koger was interviewed during the course of the investigation, as were several inmates and some of their family members. One inmate said he saw Koger having sex with another inmate, a different inmate who was part of the "garden squad" said the men like Koger because she was one of the only officers who listened to them and counseled them, the affidavit said.
The mother of the inmate Koger was accused of being sexually involved with said she knew Koger from church and Koger let her borrow $100 on one occasion and $50 on another. Koger also borrowed money from the inmate's mother during a period of financial hardship, she said.
Investigators said they found a Western Union money pickup form for the amount of $140 when they searched Koger's vehicle. A former inmate was listed as the sender. Koger said the money was used to pay back the inmate's mother.
Koger is charged with official misconduct in reference to her personal relationship with the inmate, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and perjury.