An inmate is back in custody after he was mistakenly released from a Rikers Island jail this week — by claiming to be another jailbird, according to law enforcement sources and Correction officials.
The conman, identified by sources as Josiah Prysock, 21, was cooling his heels at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center before he was “prematurely discharged” Monday night, according to the city Department of Correction.
He weaseled his way out by claiming to be another inmate who was scheduled for release, the sources said.
He was back in custody a day later, DOC press secretary Jason Kersten said in a statement.
“This individual was safely returned to custody after our Correction Intelligence Bureau worked with [the] NYPD to convince him to surrender,” Kersten said without elaborating on the circumstances.
Prysock was busted on a first-degree robbery charge last week and ordered held without bail, online correction records show.
He has a dozen unsealed arrests, mostly for robbery and grand larceny, police said.
Officials said an investigation is ongoing.