8 workers fired in inmate’s contraband operation ‘escape’

WARTBURG, Tenn. (AP) - An inmate’s alleged perimeter breach at a Tennessee prison has led to the firing of eight prison employees.

In a Jan. 26 release, the Tennessee Department of Correction said 36-year-old Robert Fusco had “breached the secure perimeter” of the Morgan County Regional Correctional Complex with the intent of introducing contraband into the prison. Authorities did not provide a timeframe.

Department spokeswoman Neysa Taylor confirmed Friday to the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the eight employees had been fired, but wouldn’t say more.

Fusco was a minimum security inmate, but has since been transferred to West Tennessee State Penitentiary as a maximum custody inmate. He’s expected to be charged with escape because of the purposeful breach.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate.

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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com