Former correctional officers Jeffrey Wilson and Lawrence Gacad have pleaded guilty to sexually abusing female inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California. The facility is a low-security federal prison for women. Wilson also admitted to making false statements to federal investigators.
Wilson and Gacad were charged on June 25, 2025. They are the eighth and ninth correctional officers either convicted or having pleaded guilty as part of an ongoing federal investigation into sexual abuse at FCI Dublin.
“There is zero tolerance for federal correctional officers who violate their positions of trust and authority. And that is especially true where they use those positions to sexually abuse individuals in their custody,” said United States Attorney Craig Missakian. “Our investigations remain ongoing, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who engages in these despicable acts.”
“The pattern of abuse of inmates at FCI Dublin is inexcusable. Gacad and Wilson’s guilty pleas are the eighth and ninth convictions of Federal Bureau of Prisons employees for sexually abusing inmates at that institution. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate these heinous crimes, and with our partners, vigorously pursue justice for the victims of sexual abuse,” said Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Hunt.
“These guilty pleas mark yet another step toward accountability for a culture of predation that thrived for far too long behind the walls of FCI Dublin. Female inmates were exploited by those with power and access when they were most vulnerable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI and our partners remain resolute in our work to expose every individual who used their position to harm, and to help restore the dignity stolen from the women who survived abuse.”
According to court documents, Wilson worked as a health technician/paramedic at FCI Dublin from July 2021 through September 2022. He provided medical care for female inmates during this time. Around August 2021, he began interacting with a victim inmate after she started taking seizure medication prescribed by staff. He encouraged her transfer from prison housing into FCI Dublin Camp so fewer medical staff would witness their interactions.
Wilson admitted engaging in sexual acts with this inmate on multiple occasions. He gave her a $60 pre-paid credit card and a cellphone while she was housed at FCI Dublin Camp; she used this phone to send him nude photos.
When questioned by DOJ OIG special agents, Wilson denied any sexual contact or providing contraband items.
Gacad served as a correctional officer from July 2021 until June 2022 at FCI Dublin. Between March and June 2022, he kissed and groped an inmate living in one of his assigned housing units. He exchanged handwritten notes and emails—some sexually explicit—with her using email accounts set up under fake names.
After resigning from his position following discovery of his conduct, Gacad continued emailing the victim and participated in video chats involving her parents.
Both men have been released on bond pending sentencing hearings: Wilson on November 6, 2025; Gacad on November 19, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Wilson faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment plus fines per count related to sexual abuse charges under federal statutes (18 U.S.C §2243(b)), as well as up to eight years’ imprisonment for making false statements (18 U.S.C §1001(a)(2)). Gacad could receive up to two years’ imprisonment plus fines under abusive sexual contact statutes (18 U.S.C §2244(a)(4)). Sentencing will follow consideration under relevant guidelines (18 U.S.C §3553).
To date, ten former FCI Dublin officers have been charged over similar offenses involving female prisoners at this facility:
– Warden Ray J. Garcia was convicted by jury on December 8, 2022.
– CO John Bellhouse was convicted by jury on June 5, 2023.
– CO Darrell Smith awaits trial scheduled for September 2, 2025.
– Chaplain James Highhouse pleaded guilty February 24, 2022.
– CO Ross Klinger pleaded guilty February 10, 2022.
– CO Enrique Chavez pleaded guilty October 27, 2022.
– CO Andrew Jones pleaded guilty August17, 2023.
– CO Nakie Nunley pleaded guilty September5, 2023.
– CO Jeffrey Wilson pleaded guilty August7, 2025.
– CO Lawrence Gacad pleaded guilty August7, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Paulson, Alethea Sargent, Sailaja Paidipaty, and Molly Priedeman are prosecuting these cases with support staff Veronica Hernandez, Soana Katoa,and Amala James.The DOJ OIGand FBI ledthe investigation.
