Former nurse manager at Nassau County jail is indicted

A former nurse manager at the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow was indicted and arraigned recently on several charges including promoting prison contraband, conspiracy, and related offenses.

Yasmin Talbot, 48, of Levittown was the second-highest-ranking nurse at the correctional facility, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office. She

was employed by NuHealth, the Nassau University Medical Center’s hospital system, and allegedly engaged in an unauthorized relationship with an inmate, Christopher Wright, 37.

An investigation was conducted by District Attorney’s office, in collaboration with Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, conducted between January 2023 and May 2023.

According to a report by ABC News 7 on Jan. 4, District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the investigation began when the office realized Talbot was abusing power.

Numerous unauthorized conversations between Talbot and Wright allegedly took place during hundreds of calls, discussing contraband introduction, funding Wright’s commissary account with a fictitious name, and sharing housing locations of other inmates.

As a correctional facility employee, Talbot had limited inmate contact while overseeing their care, and was prohibited from conversing with inmates, their associates, or sending them money or items.

The investigation also revealed that Talbot, during a February call, talked to Wright about bringing a ceramic blade into the facility. Talbot ordered a ceramic blade online and later provided it to Wright while he received medical treatment. The blade matched one recovered from Wright on March 14, 2023.

Talbot also allegedly accessed inmate records, providing Wright with coded information about other inmates’ locations. In another instance of misconduct, Talbot, on Feb. 5, purchased a money order under the name “Diamond Wright,” sending it to Wright at the correctional facility to fulfill a $60 commissary request.

“Yasmin Talbot allegedly used her position to help an inmate gain access to a dangerous blade and confidential information on prisoner locations that posed a safety and security risk to other inmates and jail staff,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “Abuse of power by correctional employees and those who work in the facilities has a destabilizing effect on the jail population and creates potentially dangerous conditions.”

Donnelly added that her office, along with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who engage in inappropriate relationships with inmates at the expense of their integrity.

“Let this be a warning to others that might consider bringing contraband into the correctional center,” Nassau County Sheriff Anthony La Rocco said. “We will not tolerate anyone endangering the safety of the facility and anyone who does, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The safety and security of this correctional center, its staff, and the inmates are of the utmost importance.” 

Talbot was suspended by NuHealth on Aug. 23, 2023, and resigned on Sept. 22, 2023.

She is also facing a pending case for aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child. She plead guilty to the felony on Oct. 26, 2022, and agreed to one year of probation, 180 days of alcohol monitoring, and 50 hours of community service. A violation of the agreement could result from any new arrest or legal violations.

Talbot was arrested on Jan. 3 of this year by detective investigators from the District Attorney’s office. She is represented by Anthony Grandinette in the contraband case and Steve Epstein in the vehicular case. James McGlynn is representing Wright.

The new charges against Talbot include promoting prison contraband, offering a false instrument for filing, falsifying business records, official misconduct, and conspiracy. Talbot pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the other case involving aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child, Talbot, already on bail, was remanded.

Wright, 37, previously indicted for promoting prison contraband, faces additional charges in this indictment, including official misconduct and conspiracy. Wright also pleaded not guilty.

If convicted, both face up to 7 years in prison.

In the same report by ABC News, Grandinette said, “Talbot vehemently denies the allegations against her in this indictment. She looks forward to clearing her reputation and she would hope the community affords her the presumption of innocence and the due process that she deserves.”