Three BOP Correctional Officers Indicted for Numerous Counts Related to the Deprivation of Rights of an Inmate Under Color of Law

On November 7, 2023, three BOP Correctional Officers assigned to the United States Penitentiary Hazleton (USP Hazelton) in West Virginia, were charged via superseding indictment with multiple counts related to the deprivation of rights under color of law of a BOP inmate. Robert David Sims, Joshua David Sines, and Josiah Redd were charged in the Northern District of West Virginia. Specifically, Sims and Sines were each charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, Sims and Sines were each charged with one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, Sims was charged with two counts of falsifying records with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, Redd was charged with one count of falsifying records with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, Sims and Sines were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit falsification of records with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, and Redd was charged with one count of false statements to a federal agent. According to the superseding indictment, on or about March 21, 2019, Sims and Sines, while acting under color of law, willfully deprived a victim inmate of the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by a correctional officer when they struck the victim in the face, head, arms, and torso, resulting in bodily injury to the inmate. Additionally, according to the superseding indictment, on or about March 21, 2019, Sims, Sines, and Redd submitted or conspired to submit false memorandums regarding the assault of the inmate, with the intent to obstruct the OIG investigation. Also, according to the superseding indictment, on or about April 4, 2019, Redd knowingly made materially false statements when being interviewed by the OIG. The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Mid-Atlantic Region.