The facility also has an adjacent satellite prison camp which houses minimum-security male offenders.

Sources at the prison told the San Antonio Express-News that one gang consisted of American-born Chicanos and the other of Mexican citizens known as "Paisas.

According to the Department of Justice, Joel Gonzalez admitted that from December 2012 through April 2014 he made plans to smuggle tobacco and other contraband into the FCI in exchange for cash.

His wife, Lisa Gonzalez, reportedly assisted him by arranging times and locations for receiving the contraband and the bribe payments.

The DOJ said Lisa Gonzalez, who was employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice during the scheme, traveled with her husband to Laredo to accept the items.