Former prison officials sentenced for role in death of inmate denied urgent medical care

Petersburg, Virginia – Two former employees of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) have been sentenced for their roles in the 2021 death of an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia. The sentences come after a series of federal investigations and trials revealed disturbing misconduct, neglect, and deception by prison officials who were entrusted with the care of a man who died in custody.

Neglect, Injury, and Delayed Care Over 30 Hours

On Jan. 9 and 10, 2021, a 47-year-old inmate identified as W.W. began to display what fellow inmates described as alarming and sudden medical symptoms. W.W. was reportedly disoriented, unable to stand or walk without collapsing, unable to speak, and had lost control of his bladder. His cellmate raised concerns to prison staff early on, but those pleas for help were repeatedly ignored by those in charge.

Shronda Covington, 49, who served as a lieutenant with the Bureau of Prisons, was working in her official capacity during this critical period. Despite knowing that W.W. was in medical distress, Covington “willfully failed to ensure that the inmate… was provided with necessary medical care during her shift,” according to court records. As a result, W.W. suffered multiple injuries from falling into walls and objects, bleeding and bruising visibly as time went on without assistance.

Over the course of two days, Covington also ignored multiple calls for help from correctional officers under her supervision, further prolonging W.W.’s suffering. Ultimately, on the morning of Jan. 10, 2021, the inmate fell head-first into a wall, collapsed to the floor in an observation cell, and remained there for over an hour and 40 minutes without medical attention, even as other inmates called for help. When aid was finally rendered, it was too late. An autopsy later determined that W.W. died from blunt force trauma to the head, with the lack of medical intervention contributing directly to his death.

Covington was found guilty of violating the civil rights of the inmate by showing deliberate indifference and for making false statements to federal investigators. She was sentenced to one year in prison, followed by a year of home confinement and three years of supervised release.

“Custody includes a responsibility for safety and wellbeing,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Corrections staff must uphold that responsibility for persons in their care – or they will be held accountable for their failure to do so, like the defendants in this case.”

Medical Neglect and False Statements

Also charged in connection with the incident was Tonya Farley, 54, a former BOP nurse. Farley was the last medical provider to see W.W. alive, yet failed to meet her duty of care. Though BOP policy required her to consult with a physician and consider hospital transport, she did neither—despite admitting she knew she should have. Instead, Farley falsely claimed to federal investigators that she had spoken to a physician about W.W.’s condition. She also misled authorities about her communications with another prison official involved in the case.

For her actions, Farley was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release.

“Federal correctional officials who fail to do their jobs at the cost of inmate safety should be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Further, officials who obstruct investigations of their misconduct violate the public’s trust.”

Another Guilty Plea in the Case

In a separate but related case, Michael Anderson, another former BOP lieutenant, previously pleaded guilty for his role in W.W.’s death. He was sentenced to three years in federal custody.

“This case is a powerful reminder that BOP officials who disregard their responsibility to provide a humane environment for inmates will be held accountable,” stated Special Agent in Charge Tim Edmiston of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region.

The sentencing of Covington and Farley highlights a tragic failure in prison oversight, a breach of duty that ended with the preventable death of a man behind bars. The case also serves as a sobering reminder of the standards correctional officials are bound to uphold — and the consequences when those standards are deliberately ignored.