EAST ST. LOUIS -- A former worker at an Illinois federal lockup is now headed to federal prison for lying to investigators about a behind-bars tobacco-dealing operation that earned him $35,000.

In addition to six months in prison, 45-five-year-old Kenneth White of Centralia also was ordered Friday in East St. Louis to spend two years on supervised release after his prison time.

White pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal officer.

Tobacco is a forbidden contraband at the southern Illinois prison in Greenville where White worked. But between October 2006 and August 2007, White delivered it to two inmates in return for roughly $35,000.

White then lied to investigators when he denied having any business dealings with any inmates.