Allenwood inmate sentenced for having 'shank' in prison

Feb. 5—WILLIAMSPORT — A federal inmate at Allenwood will spend 21 months incarcerated after he was sentenced on charges of possession of contraband in prison.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said Robert John Palmer, an inmate at United States Penitentiary at Allenwood, was sentenced on Jan. 30 to 21 months' imprisonment by Chief United States District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann, for possession of contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Palmer was found in possession of an inmate-made weapon; specifically, a 5 and 3/4 inch piece of plastic sharpened to a point, commonly referred to as a "shank."

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Prisons.

Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.

— Francis Scarcella