The former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd, has been transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Big Spring, Texas. This move comes approximately nine months after a prison stabbing incident involving Chauvin at another facility. The 47-year-old is serving concurrent sentences: a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights and a 22.5-year state sentence for second-degree murder.
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Thomas Lane listens during a court proceeding on September 21, 2022. (Credit: Minnesota Attorney General’s Office via AP)
Chauvin’s transfer follows a November 2023 incident where he was stabbed multiple times by a fellow inmate, a former gang leader and FBI informant. The attack reportedly stemmed from Chauvin’s notoriety in the George Floyd case. The Bureau of Prisons confirmed Chauvin’s relocation to FCI Big Spring, a low-security prison. He was previously incarcerated at FCI Tucson in Arizona.
Meanwhile, Thomas Lane, another former Minneapolis officer involved in Floyd’s death, has been released from federal prison in Colorado. Lane, 41, served a three-year sentence for aiding and abetting manslaughter. His role in the incident involved holding down Floyd’s legs while Floyd struggled to breathe.
Lane’s guilty plea included an admission of intentionally restraining Floyd in a manner he knew posed an unreasonable risk, ultimately leading to Floyd’s death. He acknowledged hearing Floyd’s pleas of being unable to breathe, observing Floyd’s silence and lack of pulse, and recognizing Floyd’s apparent loss of consciousness.
The tragic death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, occurred in May 2020. Chauvin, a white officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, ignoring Floyd’s repeated cries for air. Lane held Floyd’s legs, J. Alexander Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, and Tou Thao prevented bystanders from intervening.
Derek Chauvin addresses the court during his sentencing hearing on June 25, 2021. (Credit: Court TV via AP, Pool, File)
Kueng and Thao, currently incarcerated in Ohio and Kentucky respectively, are scheduled for release in 2025. They were also convicted for their roles in Floyd’s death. The incident, captured on bystander video, ignited widespread protests and sparked a global conversation about racial injustice.
Lane’s release marks the first among the four officers convicted in connection with Floyd’s death. He served his federal and state sentences concurrently after being found guilty of violating Floyd’s civil rights.
Chauvin is currently pursuing an appeal to overturn his federal guilty plea, citing new evidence that allegedly absolves him of causing Floyd’s death. If unsuccessful, his projected release date remains 2038. The individual who stabbed Chauvin, John Turscak, is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes related to his involvement with the Mexican Mafia prison gang. He confessed to targeting Chauvin due to his notoriety in the George Floyd case.
The stabbing incident exposed security vulnerabilities and staffing shortages at FCI Tucson, a medium-security prison. Chauvin’s former attorney, Eric Nelson, had previously advocated for protective measures to shield Chauvin from potential threats within the general prison population. Turscak, charged with attempted murder, claimed he would have killed Chauvin if not for the swift intervention of correctional officers. The circumstances surrounding Chauvin’s transfer underscore the ongoing complexities and sensitivities surrounding this high-profile case.
