Cell phones make their way to Md. inmates

BALTIMORE, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors say that the number of cell phones being used by inmates in Maryland prisons is "troubling."

Earlier this week, 28 reputed gang members were indicted, including one who allegedly ran a Bloods unit from prison by cell phone, the Baltimore Sun reported. In another case, an inmate was indicted this month on charges of setting up a murder-for-hire with a cell phone.

Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for Maryland, described the situation as a "complete security lapse."

"Cell phone use is very troubling," he said.

The phones are contraband in Maryland prisons. Frank Galaski, who recently retired as the prison system's head of intelligence, told the Sun that he thinks about half the smuggled cell phones are confiscated.

Inmates, knowing that there is a good chance they will lose their phones, remove the computer chips so calls cannot be traced, Galaski said. Gang leaders also hide their calls on regular prison phones by using other inmates' PIN numbers.