Former Prisoner at USP Lee Sentenced for 2008 Escape

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – A prisoner who was already serving time at USP Lee but escaped custody in 2008 was sentenced yesterday to additional federal prison time for that crime, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced.

Edward Porta, 61, pled guilty in June 2016 to one count of escape from custody of an institution or officer (USP Lee County Prison Camp). Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon, Porta was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment to be served consecutively to the remainder of his previous sentence, to be followed by two years of supervised release.

"Mr. Porta has shown a complete disregard for law and order and has been justly punished for his actions,” United States Attorney Fishwick said today.

According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer R. Bockhorst, Porta was a prisoner at USP Lee County Prison Camp when he escaped in 2008.  He remained a fugitive until earlier this year when he was apprehended in Washington State.                                                                                                           

The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Marshal’s Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer R. Bockhorst prosecuted the case for the United States.