Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty To Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate Resulting in His Death

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) lieutenant pleaded guilty yesterday to violating the civil rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in his death.

According to court documents, on January 9 and 10, 2021, Michael Anderson, 52, was working in his official capacity as a BOP correctional officer, with a rank of lieutenant, at the Federal Correctional Institution at Petersburg. In that capacity, Anderson was responsible for the care of federal inmates. On Jan. 9, 2021, a correctional officer notified Anderson that a 47-year-old inmate, W.W., was experiencing symptoms of an apparent medical emergency and asked the defendant to help W.W. obtain medical care. Anderson personally observed W.W.’s symptoms and stated that he would get medical help for W.W. Anderson nevertheless failed to notify medical staff, obtain a medical assessment, contact the facility’s on-call physician, or notify any other staff members of W.W.’s condition. The next day, a correctional officer notified Anderson that W.W. had fallen to the ground in his cell. Even with this information, Anderson failed to obtain any assistance for W.W. whatsoever. W.W. then laid on the ground, dead or dying, for over an hour and a half before any correctional or medical staff entered his cell. By the time correctional and medical staff entered the cell, life-saving efforts failed, and W.W. was later pronounced dead.

“Despite Anderson’s knowledge of the victim’s medical condition and his knowledge of BOP policies, he failed to provide potentially life-saving medical care to an inmate in need,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “People have a constitutional right to basic care while incarcerated.”

“Correctional supervisors are responsible for the care and custody of inmates entrusted to their care, particularly those with serious medical needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those correctional officers who deliberately disregard inmates’ serious medical needs.”

“Anderson’s appalling indifference and disregard for his responsibility to provide a humane environment for inmates resulted in the needless loss of life,” said Special Agent in Charge Russell W. Cunningham of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General Washington Field Office. “Incarcerated individuals should never be denied medical care, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate anyone who does so.”

Sentencing is scheduled for November 28, 2023. Anderson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Any sentence will be determined by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Michael E. Horwitz, Inspector General of the Justice Department, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea.

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-80.