A federal court judge in Wilmington Wednesday conditionally approved a plea agreement entered on behalf of a former Caledonia Correctional Institution case manager who was indicted on extortion and smuggling counts.

At his arraignment Ollie Rose III entered a plea of guilty on counts 1 and 2.

Count one charges that from at least November of 2018 through the time the indictment was returned in October, Rose bribed officials and continued the unlawful activity.

The purpose of the conspiracy, the indictment says, was for Rose, in exchange for payment, to use his position as a public official to take official action and act in violation of his lawful duty by smuggling contraband into Caledonia.

Count 2 charges that Rose obstructed and delayed justice by extortion under color of official right by smuggling into the prison for payment placebo pills he believed contained oxycodone.

He was originally indicted on 11 counts.

United States Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones Jr. set Rose’s sentencing date for the September 7 term of court in New Bern before District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan.

Following the arraignment Rose was released per the previous terms set by the court at the time of his first appearance.

Meanwhile Wednesday Jones issued an order in which Rose must forfeit $42,000 to the government, which is the amount he obtained in the conspiracy.

According to the indictment, Rose was a case manager working at Caledonia, where his responsibilities included supervising a caseload of inmates through supportive counseling, developing case plans, and addressing inmate questions and problems. “By virtue of his position at Caledonia, Rose was a DPS (North Carolina Department of Public Safety) employee and public official,” the indictment said. “Rose used his position to take official acts and act in violation of his lawful duty by smuggling contraband into Caledonia in exchange for payments from inmates and their associates.”