Brooklyn, New York — A 31-year-old youth counselor at a Brooklyn juvenile detention facility has been arrested and charged after allegedly accepting more than $70,000 in bribes to sneak drugs, tobacco, and blades into the center, according to the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI).
Investigator: “He Betrayed the Trust of the Public”
Authorities identified the suspect as Lymek Frazier, who worked as a Youth Development Specialist at the Crossroads Juvenile Center, one of two secure facilities in New York City housing young defendants between the ages of 14 and 20.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber condemned Frazier’s actions, stating, “This defendant was trusted to ensure the safety and well-being of the young people under his supervision. He betrayed that trust when, as charged, he accepted illicit payments to smuggle contraband into the Crossroads Juvenile Center, jeopardizing the safety of its residents and staff.”
$72,000 in Payments and Dozens of Transactions
Investigators allege that Frazier accepted a total of $72,356 in bribes, often through cash app payments, from friends and relatives of inmates detained at Crossroads. Between March and September 2024, Frazier allegedly conducted 48 separate transactions, collecting over $21,000 in just six months.
In exchange, he reportedly smuggled drugs, tobacco, and weapons, using coded language like “1 zip,” “sprinkles,” and “grabba” to describe the contraband.
Crossroads Facility Already Facing Contraband Issues
The Crossroads Juvenile Center, located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, has faced ongoing challenges with contraband smuggling, similar to those found in adult correctional facilities.
Despite security protocols requiring its 280 staff members to undergo screenings upon entry, investigators said that between March 2022 and September 2025, officers recovered 112 cell phones and nearly 700 blades from inside the facility — a sign of a larger internal smuggling problem.
Frazier, who earned an annual salary of $51,000, was hired at the detention center in November 2023.
Mistake at Security Check Leads to Arrest
According to the DOI, Frazier’s scheme came to an end on January 10, 2025, when he arrived for work and was caught during a routine security check. Investigators said a silver blade fell out of his pocket, immediately raising suspicions.
Court Appearance and Bond Conditions
Frazier was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court late Wednesday, where he was formally charged with two counts of felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal by means of torture — pardon — two counts of felony bribery and contraband smuggling (correctly) and released on a $100,000 bond.
He has been placed under home detention and ordered to wear an ankle monitor while awaiting further court proceedings, investigators said.
A Breach of Duty and Trust
Officials say the case highlights a serious breach of public trust and raises questions about security oversight in New York City’s juvenile detention facilities.
What do you think about this case? Should there be stricter security checks and harsher penalties for staff caught smuggling contraband into detention facilities?
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