Inmate's suit claims prison gave control to gang
Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 9, 2003 11:55 AM

An inmate at the Florence Correctional Center has filed suit claiming he was severely beaten because the warden and guards gave control of the prison to a Hawaiian gang.

The complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court claims that correctional officers smuggled drugs to members of the so-called United Samoan Organization and allowed them to assault nonmembers without interference.

Victoriano Ortiz, a convicted murderer from Honolulu housed at the private facility, claims he was attacked in April 2001 after inmates manufactured "swipe,'' or contraband alcohol, in the prison kitchen.

Ortiz, who was convicted of second-degree murder 15 years ago, claims the prison warden told members of the Samoan gang "they could do whatever they wanted as long as they don't hurt the guards.'' He alleges that two gang leaders were installed as de facto managers of the prison, and correctional officers allowed them and their cohorts to beat Ortiz and others.

A spokesman for the Florence Correctional Center could not be reached for comment.

According to the Tucson Weekly, the prison housed more than 550 Hawaiian inmates in 2000 under a contract with the state, and at least 100 of them were gang members. An audit team sent in by the state of Hawaii to document problems concluded that the facility was controlled by United Samoans. Corrections Corporation of America, the prison operator, reportedly made major changes last year, replacing the warden and transferring half the gang members.

Ortiz's lawsuit names CCA, along with the state of Hawaii and two alleged gang leaders. Ortize requests damages for cruelty, negligence, failure to protect and other civil rights violations.

Reach the reporter at dennis.wagner@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8874.