A South Texas county claims in a federal lawsuit that "abysmal mismanagement" by a prison operator led to a 2015 inmate riot that destroyed much of the prison facility in the county.
Willacy County says in the suit that in the weeks after the riot the U.S. Bureau of Prisons cancelled its contract with Utah-based Management & Training Corp., leading to the prison's closure.
The Valley Morning Star reports the prison generated about $2.7 million a year for the rural county.
The suit, filed Wednesday, says about 400 employees were laid off as a result of the closing.
The Feb. 20, 2015, riot led to the destruction of the much of the 3,000-bed facility, which was comprised of tent-like domes.
Management & Training has denied the allegations.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
