Charges dropped against Epstein prison guards

(New York, NY) --  A judge is now dismissing charges against two Bureau of Prison guards on duty at the time of Jeffrey Epstein's death.  Guards Tova Noel and Michael Thomas had been stationed next to Epstein's cell when he took his own life at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019.  Prosecutors alleged they failed to check on the wealthy financier and fell asleep during their shifts, and they subsequently reached an agreement and admitted to falsifying records in the deal.  One guard's lawyer said in exchange for cooperation his client provided the government with truthful insight into the toxic culture, dysfunctional management, and staff shortages at the now shuttered correctional facility.