A former guard at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth was sentenced to two years on probation Monday for taking bribes. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall, Michael Harston also was ordered to serve six months home confinement and pay $4,800 in fines.

Harston, 53, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to accept bribes and one count of accepting bribes.

In his plea, he admitted accepting bribes to provide inmates with tobacco, which is contraband. Inmates coordinated with their families and friends outside prison to pay Harston. They paid Harston as much as $1,000 for one six-ounce can of Bugler loose tobacco.

Harston received payments from the relatives of inmates through wire transfers and was caught on video surveillance distributing tobacco to inmates, according to prosecutors.