Is corruption at state prisons a federal offense?

Question prompted by this story.

As an Englishman I’m puzzled. I could understand the federal indictments if this were a federal prison but it seems to be a state one. Don’t US states have responsibility for their prisons? The article does say that the prison administration asked the FBI for help in the investigation but shouldn’t it be Maryland charging the accused prisoners and guards?

IIRC, corruption in office is a federal crime.

Racketeering is a federal crime. They also charged several with civil rights violations, another federal crime. In some cases they apparently used Paypal to pay off the drug dealers which could involve interstate commerce - another federal crime. They also used the US Mail system to send money and drugs around, yet another federal crime.

All in all there are a lot of federal crimes alleged. Many or all of these crimes also violate state law but the state probably felt the feds could build a better case and the feds probably felt they could conduct a more impartial investigation because the accused are state employees.

IIRC, for some types of under color of office crimes, there just needs to be potential effects on interstate commerce, not actual ones.

Also, if I recall correctly a previous thread, federal charges do not preclude state charges for the same offence - and it is not double jeopardy. You broke both a state law and a federal law doing omething, they can both charge you.