Two former employees of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) have been convicted for their roles in the death of an inmate who was denied essential medical care, despite showing clear signs of a medical emergency. The verdicts came after a federal trial that exposed the deliberate indifference and misconduct of prison staff at the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia.
Lieutenant Shronda Covington, 49, of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Registered Nurse Tonya Farley, 53, of Chesterfield, were found guilty of violating the civil rights of inmate W.W., a 47-year-old man who died after suffering from a serious medical condition that was ignored by prison staff. The jury also convicted Covington and Farley of making false statements to federal agents in an attempt to obstruct the investigation into W.W.’s death.
“Federal inmates are human beings in a uniquely vulnerable environment,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Their care is the responsibility of corrections staff entrusted to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct. The defendants in this case failed to honor that trust, and the
inmate died.
The events that led to W.W.’s death began on January 9, 2021, when his cellmate reported to staff that W.W. was exhibiting unusual behavior, including sudden incontinence, an inability to speak or walk normally, and other neurological symptoms. Despite being aware of these serious signs of distress, Covington and Farley failed to provide the necessary medical attention or initiate an appropriate response.
Over the course of the next two days, W.W.’s condition worsened as he repeatedly fell and injured himself, suffering significant bruising and bleeding to his head and body. Witnesses reported seeing him struggling to stand and walk, yet staff ignored his symptoms and did not call for medical assistance in a timely manner.
On the second day of W.W.’s medical crisis, he fell head-first into a wall and then collapsed onto the floor in an observation cell. Despite inmates in the same area continuously calling for help, W.W. lay unassisted for an hour and 40 minutes before staff finally responded. By that time, W.W. had suffered fatal head trauma.
An autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, and the lack of timely medical care was a contributing factor. The failure to act on the inmate’s deteriorating health was a violation of FBOP’s own policies, which require staff to provide necessary medical care to inmates.
Lieutenant Michael Anderson, who was also involved in the case, had previously pleaded guilty to his role in the incident and was sentenced to three years in federal custody. Anderson’s guilty plea and subsequent conviction highlighted the systemic failures in the prison’s handling of W.W.’s medical emergency.
Justice Department’s Response
In response to the conviction of Covington and Farley, Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, condemned the actions of the convicted prison employees. “These defendants showed an appalling indifference and disregard for the victim’s life, and their failure to act caused his death,” Clarke said. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who work inside our prisons and jails, including our federal facilities, when they fail in their duty to provide basic care and humane treatment to the people held in their custody.”
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, emphasized the vulnerability of federal inmates and the responsibility of corrections staff to ensure their well-being. “Federal inmates are human beings in a uniquely vulnerable environment,” Aber stated. “Their care is the responsibility of corrections staff entrusted to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct. The defendants in this case failed to honor that trust, and the inmate died.”
Tim Edmiston, Special Agent in Charge of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region, highlighted the significance of the case in terms of civil rights violations within federal prisons. “Covington’s inexcusable apathy to the medical needs of W.W. over the course of two days caused his unnecessary death,” Edmiston said. “Covington and Farley also decided to lie about their involvement in order to escape accountability. The Justice Department Office of the Inspector General will continue to investigate civil rights violations at the hands of Federal Bureau of Prisons employees.”
Covington and Farley will be sentenced at a later date. Covington faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, while Farley faces up to 5 years. The final sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors when making the decision.
