Recently, at the end of Eric’s time at USP Lee, he experienced brutal deprivation, threats and retaliation. So much that while he was there, he didn’t speak on it for safety concerns. Right before he left, the Bureau of Prison’s Southeast Regional office outside of USP Lee jurisdiction held his disciplinary hearing, allegedly to be “impartial”. The lieutenants let him know that Regional instructed them to find Eric guilty in case his ADX transfer didn’t go through so they could try forcing the ADX transfer again later on if needed. The BOP found him guilty of “rioting” because of a global noise demo that happened outside prisons on New Year’s Eve 2020, and a joke he made in legal mail about how they could have brought cocktails. This noise demo had nothing to do with Eric, he had no knowledge of it until well after it occurred, yet here we are 2 years later, and he just lost one year of phone and email, as well as 6 months of visits. His out date is no longer in December 2023, but in February of 2024. They found him guilty from a disciplinary shot involving an officer who took Eric into the showers in his underwear, and broke Eric’s head open while handcuffed.
Eric was told he was not scheduled to be on the bus the week that he was shipped out of USP Lee, but a lieutenant recently accused him of planning to participate in a “week of action“ he again had no knowledge of. Eric was picked up and transferred to ADX Florence, the supermax. He was held incommunicado in transit and arrived in administrative maximum security two weeks ago.
Eric’s eligible for a halfway house in 7 months, yet the Bureau of Prison says that he must be held in maximum custody in the prison that is built to add extra “security”, AKA consequences, for people with life sentences. Eric has not had phone privileges since January of 2019. He does not get a monthly phone call, which is legally the bare minimum that the Bureau has to provide to inmates. During the initial outbreak of COVID he wasn’t allowed to carry his visitations out over the phone like the Cares Act allowed. And now on the four-year anniversary of his attack and torture at Florence in 2018 when he was attacked in a broom closet by guards and abused for days in segregation, the Bureau have placed him as a ward under the very same officers that gave him this “attitude adjustment” in 2018, the same officers who testified in court showing they had no proper knowledge of BOP protocols regarding use of force or use of restraints.
We do not know how he was received at Florence. Until he has a legal call or someone gets a letter, we do not know what restrictions he’s under. At Englewood, his last communication restriction paperwork blatantly informed him “if he continued to be an inspiration” his communication would continue to be restricted. The Bureau started his transfer to maximum security ADX before his alleged guilt from his acts of self defense at Florence in 2018 was ever determined. His recent acquittal/not guilty for those acts of self defense are seemingly meaningless regarding his security designation at a supermax prison. We hope that this is the first step towards the end of his journey… yet we remain trepidatious. His family misses him, his friends miss him. We hope the BOP has compassion. At the very least, that he is entitled to basic Bureau guidelines when it comes to his treatment.
We do not know how many books he has in his property from the years of transfer he’s endured. He has not been out of segregation, so he has not seen his property in 4 years. We don’t know if he’s under any communication restrictions, but this is the address to write him.
When Eric arrived at USP Lee after a recent acquittal at trial in March 2022, he was not allowed to walk the yard; he was informed he was on a special hold.
At the transfer center at USP Atlanta, before reaching USP Lee, the Burea Of Prisons deleted Eric’s management variable making him maximum security custody. He was told that he CAN NOT be transferred and can not be placed in general population.
Eric currently has medium security points, and it has been confirmed there’s no management variable, yet somehow the BOP has him classified as MAXIMUM security custody.
Eric is at USP Lee because in May of 2020, it was confirmed the BOP previously wrote out some disciplinary shots and referred them to the prosecutor for potential charges; the BOP is unable to conduct it’s own disciplinary hearing until the prosecutor declines criminal prosecution. At that point, the BOP can conduct it’s own disciplinary hearing for these two write-ups, which could result in potential sanctions like lost good time, lost phone use, lost access to commissary, etc.
The BOP claims they are unable to transfer him from USP Lee due to these indefinitely pending disciplinary hearings, where he is being illegally detained above his current custody level, with records of threats to his life at USP Lee from white supremacist gangs that have been documented since 2018.
It seems awfully convenient, because the BOP had no problem conducting a disciplinary hearing for Eric regarding the write-up of the assault in the closet (that Eric was just acquitted of in March 2022 at federal trial), despite the prosecutor communicating with BOP they DID intend to prosecute https://supportericking.org/2022/04/02/this-is-not-a-blue-dress-gold-dress-type-of-situation/ At trial, it was revealed the BOP went as far as creating a fake version of the BOP disciplinary hearing paperwork to present to Eric that said the prosecutor WASN’T pursuing prosecution.
The Write-Ups
When reading about these alleged disciplinary infractions, keep in mind that Eric has never seen any of these. Nor has he been delivered either of them. They are all at this point hypothetical, straight from the mouths of Bureau of Prison staff.
The alleged write-ups the prosecutor is holding onto that stalls Eric’s transfer involves Officer Gustafson, who took Eric into the showers in June of 2020 while handcuffed in his underwear, and attacked him. He flipped Eric over, dumped him head first onto concrete, which resulted in an emergency trip to the hospital and stitches.
They attempted to write Eric up for this, claiming that he assaulted the officer. However, upon review of video and BOP officer statements, this write-up was dismissed. It was clear Eric played no role in this interaction besides victim.
This was not the first incident. In fact, Officer Gustafson carried out systematic harassment of Eric via disciplinary write-ups, assault attempts and threats. At times at the behest of the prosecutor (at trial), at times seemingly of Gustafson’s own accord.
If BOP policies extended to protect Eric… Gustafson would have never gotten the keys to Eric’s cell in June of 2020.
In April of 2020, Officer Gustafson threw a book at Eric. When Eric attempted to report this, he was told that the specific position of an officer who’s job is to investigate allegations against BOP staff wasn’t filled, so he was unable to report the violation. In actuality, *per policy* if a prisoner alleges an officer attempted to assault him the two will not have contact until an investigation is concluded, or the prisoner has a disciplinary hearing in order to keep all parties safe.
This did not happen.
In May of 2020, Officer Gustafson claims Eric assaulted him by flicking water at him from the shower. (The SAME day in a different unit Eric’s friend also received the SAME write-up of “assault by liquid” despite the two being held without contact). While this is an incredibly silly claim, this disciplinary infraction was on the books. It should have created a situation where the two would no longer have contact. https://supportericking.org/2020/06/29/deliberate-indifference/
The BOP STILL ALLOWED OFFICER GUSTAFSON ACCESS TO ERIC.
And now… Eric is at a max security facility awaiting an ADX supermax transfer.
Afterwards, Officer Gustafson was given a new job out-of- state. The trial prosecutor DID have further contact with him; he brought Gustafson to testify against Eric at trial March 2022, where Eric was unable to bring up the assault in the shower during his testimony. And now, the prosecutor is sitting on these write-ups holding out for criminal prosecution on a write-up that directly involves Officer Gustafson.
Did the BOP investigate this assault and targeted harassment of Eric AT ALL? After his disciplinary hearing in 2020, after those staff statements and video showing he did nothing wrong in the shower, did this trigger an investigation?
The ADX Referral
(read about the ADX prison in Florence here https://people.howstuffworks.com/adx-florence.htm)
FCI Englewood shipped USP Lee in 2022 a hard-copy folder of an ADX supermax designation referral already in process for Eric. It seems BOP attorneys may have began the process of a supermax custody transfer PRIOR to Eric ever stepping foot in the courtroom for trial (and eventual acquittal) March 2022.
USP Lee has completed Eric’s psych exam, intake interview, and sent Eric’s ADX supermax referral off for a final decision on transfer.
The supermax control unit was built to handle prisoners with incredibly long sentences or life in prison. So it seems a little odd, so soon after Eric’s acquittal, they chose an ADX…We’re one year and seven months away from Eric’s out date, but he’s placed in absolute segregation at the ADX supermax…
Eric wanted to share these; he wants ya’ll to know that this pending ADX transfer is VERY real.
Intake paperwork:
Eric is at medium security points. At medium points with no management variable, a prisoner MUST be held at appropriate custody. Yet he is currently being held in MAXIMUM custody at USP Lee in segregation, and pending transfer to ADX supermax Florence.
The Conditions
Eric is not receiving any mail, no phone and no visits.
Eric has no sanctions on phones, yet has not been allowed a phone call to his family.
The library at USP Lee is closed.
Prisoners in segregation at USP Lee are not allowed visits. Despite the fact Eric has no visiting sanctions, and did not currently ask to be placed in the SHU, he is going to be held without any access to visits.
“Things here are EXACTLY as predicted lol, this is mentally + physically exhausting. Same horrible food, finger toothbrush w/ expired “toothpaste,” no family visits, no law library, no phone calls, + seemingly no family mail. Paper spoons, no radios. Loud ALL the time, hot as fuck, dirty as fuck, had the same holey socks for 3 weeks. I’ve been getting legal calls, but only 4 letters – 3 from my first 3 days, + none from my wife 🙁 Everything we thought, right on the money. The day I got here S.I.S. put me in the SHU saying it’s cause I had pending shots . . . 2 days later psych said I was being referred to ADX, I told him 2 shut up . . . 3 days later he brought me the “ADX psych eval consent form” . . . then 2 days after that I had the Eval. Test. So they aren’t playing games w/ that. 4 days ago my Case Manager confirmed that my packet was completed here and totally at Region – who along w/ National – ordered this 2 happen according 2 psych.
Naturally, that was pretty shocking. They’re saying the referral can take 2-3 months 🙁 ugh. Will I hear from my wife during this time? People NEED 2 be asking the appropriate folks, if I’m being moved then what’s the hold up? Let’s go! Why the extra stuff? Why destroy family contact + law library access?
19 days + not one fam. letter? :(“
What did Eric do that is deserving of 7 months underground before he’s eligible for a halfway house? He has been held in segregation for 3 years and 9 months. The BOP told senators that he had to be held in segregation because he was ACCUSED of assaulting a lieutenant. So now that he’s acquitted (not guilty) at trial March 2022, what is the reasoning for sending him back to Florence, to complete solitude underground in a supermax control unit? Why is it necessary to put his halfway house time back in the hands of a warden that sent staff to testify against him at his trial in March 2022?
We have QUESTIONS
North Central Regional Office
Andrè Matevousian is currently the North Central Regional Office Director, however he was also the warden of ADX Florence in 2018. Eric was NOT designated to ADX Florence at that time, yet his transfer paperwork dated August 20th of 2018 was signed by then-warden Andrè Matevousian. This was a “temporary transfer” request to USP Leavenworth. Warden Matevousian tells Director Sarah Revell that Eric was AGRESSIVE and DISRUPTIVE and therefore had to be placed in hard 4 point restraints, but…
Did Matevousian have knowledge this was not the truth? If he would have reviewed the footage and reviewed staff statements to the FBI about the day Eric had been assaulted in a broom closet August 2018, he would have known that in fact there is no footage of Eric demonstrating anything but compliance. When the head of SIS Robert Cordova spoke to the FBI in May of 2020, he admitted in fact footage had been deleted because it showed that Eric was compliant and therefore there was no reason to maintain the footage. Other officers also testified under oath to Eric’s compliance at an evidentiary hearing October 2021 and at federal trial March 2022.
After this transfer requested by Andrè Matevousian
Eric was never allowed to safely walk a normal yard again.
Andrè’s will be one of the final signatures on the paperwork that will seal Eric’s fate and send him to the ADX.
Director Andrè Matevousian played a role in 2018 in these trumped-up charges Eric was acquitted of due to acts of self defense from an assault in a broom closet at Florence in August 2018, and again in 2022 being a part of placing Eric into ADX supermax custody.
Any questions about Eric’s compliance prior to the application of restraints can be summed up by watching this video:
Please be Eric’s voice and call the North Central Regional Office and Director Matevousian for Eric; ask some REALLY important questions
Demand Director Matevousian review the footage of the use of force incident from Eric’s acts of self defense due to the assault in the broom closet at Florence in August 2018, and decide if Eric’s behavior prior to the application of restraints dictates that he be immediately placed in hard 4-point restraints.
Compare this to Captain Gicconi and Lieutenant Kammrad’s statements and testimony that led the director to request a regional transfer of Eric.
If the director finds violations in BOP policy, specifically restraints used as punishment and policy violations in Eric’s subsequent transfer to a ADX supermax, we urge him to turn it over to the Office of the Inspector General.
Demand the Regional Office review why FCI Englewood failed to take Eric’s report of assault when Officer Gustafson threw a book at Eric in 2020
Regional Office: Review why Officer Gustafson was still given the keys to Eric’s cell and the ability to take him into the showers in June of 2020, AFTER Officer Gustafson wrote Eric up for a 224: allegedly assaulting an officer in the showers with water on 4-3-2020? Review why this 224 write-up by Gustasfson did not trigger a protection order keeping him and Eric separate as BOP policy demands.
Regional Office: Review if appropriate action was taken after it was decided Eric played no role in aggravating Gustafson to attack Eric in the showers June 2020. When the Disciplinary Hearing threw out Eric’s shower write-up, did they appropriately notify the Office of Inspector General of Gustafson’s misconduct as required? Did they notify the Regional Office of this misconduct? Will Englewood Assistant Warden Lillard, Lieutenant Quezada, and Lieutenant Gustafson be investigated regarding these disciplinary shots given to Eric?
How can they place a prisoner who is SIX months away from being eligible for a halfway house in a ADX supermax prison designed to be an extra level of punishment for folks with life sentences in prison?
Did FCI Englewood start this ADX supermax transfer process before Eric was allowed a trial?
How can Eric be acquitted of federal charges March 2022, but be immediately referred to ADX supermax and sent BACK to Florence?
Why are Eric’s attorneys not allowed to see the write-ups that are holding him in maximum custody awaiting a supermax ADX referral? There’s a pending disciplinary hearing and transfer indefinitely due to these alleged unaddressed write-ups, and Eric is at risk everyday he is stuck in segregation at USP Lee due to threats to his life by white supremacist gangs at USP Lee, which has been documented since 2018.
Why was a bar licensed attorney at risk of a denied legal visit with Eric at USP Lee in segregation unless they agreed to a federal background check? This goes against BOP Policy as well as 28 CFR § 543.13 Visits by attorneys.
Demand the National Office review ALL footage of use of force policy violations from the use of force incident in August of 2018.
Why did the North Central Regional Office fail to trigger an OIG investigation when staff reported Eric did nothing in the showers to be attacked by Officer Gustafson June 2020? Will they start an investigation now?
Why did FCI Englewood start an ADX Florence transfer for Eric before he even had his federal trial March 2022?
How can they transfer someone who is eligible for a halfway house in six moths to the ADX Florence? Right after he was acquitted in federal trial March 2022?
Why is the BOP National Office authorizing the holding of Eric outside his custody level?
Eric has no management variable, he has been scored medium security custody, yet he is sitting in segregation in maximum security facility USP Lee. What policy ALLOWS this?
Why has Eric had no ability to call his family? His phone restrictions allow for 75 minutes a month minimum yet he is not being permitted any calls.
Eric is not in disciplinary segregation, so why is he not allowed to visit with his family?
Why isn’t Eric being permitted access to the law library? Isn’t given socks? Only 20 squares of toilet paper? Paper spoons? No radio?
Why are Eric’s attorneys not allowed to see the write-ups that are holding him in maximum custody awaiting a supermax referral? There’s a pending disciplinary hearing and transfer indefinitely due to these alleged unaddressed write-ups, and Eric is at risk everyday he is stuck in segregation at USP Lee due to threats to his life by white supremacist gangs at USP Lee, which has been documented since 2018.
Why was a bar licensed attorney at risk of a denied legal visit with Eric at USP Lee in segregation unless they agreed to a federal background check? This goes against BOP Policy as well as 28 CFR § 543.13 Visits by attorneys.
Why is the mid-Atlantic Regional Office authorizing the detention of Eric King being held outside his custody level?
Eric has no management variable, he has been scored medium custody, yet he is sitting here in segregation in maximum security facility USP Lee. What policy ALLOWS this?
How can they transfer someone who is eligible for a halfway house in six moths to the ADX Florence? Right after he was acquitted in federal trial March 2022?
Why has he had no ability to call his family? His phone restrictions allow for 75 minutes a month minimum yet he is not being permitted any calls.
He is not in disciplinary segregation, so why is he not allowed to visit with his family?
Why isn’t he being permitted access to the law library? Isn’t given socks? Only 20 squares of toilet paper? Paper spoons? No radio?
Why are Eric’s attorneys not allowed to see the write-ups that are holding him in maximum custody awaiting a supermax referral? There’s a pending disciplinary hearing and transfer indefinitely due to these alleged unaddressed write-ups, and Eric is at risk everyday he is stuck in segregation at USP Lee due to threats to his life by white supremacist gangs at USP Lee, which has been documented since 2018.
Why was a bar licensed attorney at risk of a denied legal visit with Eric at USP Lee in segregation unless they agreed to a federal background check? This goes against BOP Policy as well as 28 CFR § 543.13 Visits by attorneys.
VIRGINIA SENATORS:
Eric is being held outside his custody level without a management variable.
Eric is designated to be transferred to the ADX Florence immediately following his recent acquittal in March of 2022 from acts of self defense when assaulted in a broom closet by Florence correctional guards in August 2018. He is 6 months away from being eligible for a halfway house. He hasn’t had a disciplinary write-up since 2020. Why are they sending him back to the officers who assaulted him in a broom closet at Florence in August of 2018?
He is not being allowed contact with his family through mail, phone calls or visits. He’s not being allowed access to law library. He isn’t given socks, has only 20 squares of toilet paper, given paper spoons, and no radio.
Why are Eric’s attorneys not allowed to see the write-ups that are holding him in maximum custody awaiting a supermax referral? There’s a pending disciplinary hearing and transfer indefinitely due to these alleged unaddressed write-ups, and Eric is at risk everyday he is stuck in segregation at USP Lee due to threats to his life by white supremacist gangs at USP Lee, which has been documented since 2018.
Why was a bar licensed attorney at risk of a denied legal visit with Eric at USP Lee in segregation May 2022 unless they agreed to a federal background check May 2022? This goes against BOP Policy as well as 28 CFR § 543.13 Visits by attorneys.
Virginia Senators
We need Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to help keep Eric King safe while he’s at USP Lee.
Eric was recently acquitted of erroneous yet serious charges in March 2022 due to acts of self defense when assaulted by guards in a broom closet at Florence in August 2018, and is 6 months away from being eligible for a halfway house pending his release in December 2023. He hasn’t had a iesciplinary write-up in the last 18 months, he has no management variable, and he is a medium-security prisoner. Yet he is currently being held in maximum-security penitentiary USP Lee and being threatened with being sent to ADX Florence, the highest security prison in the country, with eligibility for halfway house delayed pending alleged disciplinary shots. How is this possible? Why are they doing this?
There’s an indefinitely pending disciplinary hearing and transfer due to these alleged unaddressed write-ups that Eric has never seen for himself and neither has his legal team. Eric is at risk everyday he is stuck in segregation at USP Lee due to threats to his life by white supremacist gangs at USP Lee, which has been documented since 2018. There is establised case law regarding the BOP sending someone into dangerous and life threatening scenarios. Fitzharris v. Wolf, 702 F.2d 836, 839 (9th Cir. 1983); Gullatte v. Potts, 654 F.2d 1007, 1012-13 (5th Cir. 1981); Roba v. U.S., 604 F.2d 215, 218-19 (2d Cir. 1979).
Even a bar licensed attorney was at risk of a denied legal visit with Eric at USP Lee in segregation May 2022 unless they agreed to a federal background check. This goes against BOP Policy as well as 28 CFR § 543.13 Visits by attorneys.
Senators Kaine and Warner need to review Eric’s detention, call the prison, and visit Eric now. It is their jobs to ensure humane treatment and conditions and legal care is maintained in Virginia. His safety, his very life, is on the line.
UPDATE: MAY 4, 2022 CONCRETE CONFIRMATION ERIC IS CURRENTLY AT MAXIMUM PRISON USP LEE. KEEP UP THE CALL-IN CAMPAIGN TO DEMAND ERIC’S RIGHT TO LIFE.
Eric received a response to his grievance filing within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Friday April 29th at USP Atlanta about his improperly applied management variable forcing him into maximum security prison when in actuality he’s a medium/low security designation. He was told by the BOP he has no maximum management variable.
Yet today, Tuesday May 3rd, Eric has been transferred on a bus heading east.
And USP Lee staff (in Pennington Gap, Virginia) have told Eric’s supporters numerous times the buses head for Virginia on Tuesday.
We need to support Eric in having his unit team at USP Lee re-designate him to a proper security level and a prison facility that hasn’t knowingly threatened his life.
The BOP has given contradictory information regarding addressing Eric’s safety, meaning Eric needs eyes on him now more than ever.
One example on file of Eric’s medium security designation:
Yet BOP tells state representatives this:
THE BOP EITHER LIED TO ERIC ABOUT HAVING NO MANAGEMENT VARIABLE, OR THEY ARE DESIGNATING HIM TO A MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY ILLEGALLY, OR THEY ARE FORCING ERIC TO USP LEE TO BE “RE-DESIGNATED” PROPERLY.
We cannot allow the BOP to knowingly put Eric’s life at risk. Originally in 2018, Eric was told at USP Atlanta and USP Lee his life would be in danger by white supremacist gangs if he ever did a long stint at USP Lee, and Eric was originally told the dangers of USP Lee shortly after he was attacked by white supremacists at USP McCreary in 2018. The BOP is knowingly putting Eric at risk with these designated transfers 4 years later.
We need supporters to continue contacting the BOP everyday, as well as your district’s Congresspeople and your state’s Senators, to demand Eric’s right to finish his time at a properly designated prison and to not ignore his safety concerns, his lack of mail, his medical concerns needing addressed, access to legal calls, and access to calls with his family. All contact info and an updated letter template are supplied in this post.
TALKING POINTS FOR PHONE CALLS AND VOICEMAILS:
Eric has no pending charges, criminal history or disciplinary sanctions qualifying him for maximum security;
Eric was found not guilty March 18, 2022 for assault on federal officer due to acts of self defense, and merely wants to finish his original sentence as smoothly as possible as he’s due for release December 2023;
Eric being placed in segregation is not a guarantee for safety due to a history of being attacked by white supremacists in segregation at USP McCreary in 2018 and housed with known white supremacist gangs in segregation at USP Lee in 2018;
Eric has filed grievances to address his improper designation for maximum security and the threats made to him by white supremacist gangs at USP McCreary, USP Atlanta and USP Lee are documented;
Eric, his family and legal team need proof he does not have an improper management variable and will be properly designated based on his actual security level of medium/low;
Eric has medical concerns including swollen lymph nodes and a potential TBI being neglected;
Eric needs guarantees of access to mail, writing utensils, commissary, and especially communication with his immediate family
More of the hypocritical responses from BOP’s FCI Englewood, Mid-Atlantic Regional office, National office, and the DSCC:
BOP directly told Eric he IS designated for USP Lee; Englewood’s Associate Warden and multiple Lieutenants at Englewood (including Lt. Quezada) and USP Atlanta have said so
But BOP told supporters they can’t confirm his designation until he reaches USP Lee
But BOP has also angrily told supporters this week they “know” Eric isn’t designated for USP Lee and “it’s not necessary for people to keep calling” and the number of calls from “concerned individuals” has been “overwhelming”
BOP said Eric would be designated for USP Lee because it’s his “parent prison” (meaning a prison he was originally residing in before being under Marshall custody) despite Eric never doing time at USP Lee until AFTER he was in Marshall custody for being attacked in a broom closet at FCI Florence, and “the only way” to address his designation is with his unit team assigned to him at “his designated facility” USP Lee
But BOP also said Eric should request a case manager to contact the DSCC so they “can have a paper trail” despite not reaching USP Lee yet
But BOP ALSO said Grady County should send information to various BOP offices on Eric’s behalf before they COVID swabbed him to be transferred to USP Atlanta
But BOP ALSO had medical offices express concern and say we should address the transfer before Eric ever reaches USP Lee
But BOP ALSO said Senators and Congresspeople should address their offices before Eric reaches a designated prison
BOP said Eric’s court records of his March 2022 acquittal/not guilty for acts of self defense when attacked by guards in a FCI Florence broom closet in 2018 wouldn’t reach the BOP for another 45-60 days to address the management variable placed on him FROM THE ASSAULT HE WAS JUST ACQUITTED OF that’s upping his security from low/medium to max security prison
BOP confirmed Eric would be placed in segregation once reaching his designated prison due to COVID and his “security concerns”
BOP numerous times has transferred calls to the wrong department, such as medical or financial, or simply hang up on us when attempting to make inquiries on Eric’s behalf. Sometimes we’ve only been able to get past automated messages when other offices, prisons, or operators transfer us
Congressman Joe Neguse’s office as well as Congresswoman Cori Bush’s office have been given Eric’s extensive history within the BOP to enable a Congressional inquiry.
Amnesty International has also contacted the BOP’s director Michael Carvajal: “Transferring Eric King to a maximum-security facility across the country, far from his family and loved ones when he has such a short amount of time remaining on his sentence seems to be more retaliatory and punitive rather than necessary due to specific security concerns. Under Rule 59 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners, “Prisoners shall be allocated, to the extent possible, to prisons close to their homes or their places of social rehabilitation.” The BOP must revisit the issues within Eric King’s security profile which allow his eligibility to be at a maximum-security facility and the decision for him to be placed so far from where his family resides and where he intends to settle upon release.” Please SHARE the letter in it’s entirety here: https://supportericking.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Amnesty-International-USA-TG-re-transfer-of-Eric-King-inmate-number-27090-045-1.pdf
Congresspeople respond to their own constituents, which is specified by your legal address. Senators respond to people that live in their specific state. When calling the BOP, press zero to get to an operator if need be.
Missouri Congress and Members of House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security; Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Cori Bush
Phone: (314) 955-9980
Phone: (202) 225-2406
Twitter: @coribush
DRAFT MESSAGES / TEMPLATES
To whom it may concern,
I am writing about my friend who is a prisoner in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His name is Eric King, inmate number 27090-045. He was recently found not guilty on all counts at a trial in the U.S. District of Colorado. Eric was moved from FCI Englewood and was transferred from a private facility, Grady County Jail in Oklahoma, to USP Atlanta, where he was put on a bus headed east Tuesday May 3rd. He has been told by numerous BOP staff he is en route to USP Lee, a maximum security prison in Virginia.
I am writing because I believe Eric should not be sent to USP Lee, and would be in danger if he were sent there. He is scheduled to be released from prison in December 2023, and wants to avoid anything that would infringe on this release date.
There is an active threat against his life. A few years ago, before being sent to Colorado, Eric was held in the Segregation Unit at USP Lee for approximately two weeks. Before that, at USP Atlanta, a white supremacist gang member told him he would be killed at USP Lee if he was released into general population. This was documented at USP Lee. Eric was originally transferred to USP Lee and Atlanta under the US Marshalls after he was attacked by white supremacist gangs at USP McCreary.
It is imperative that Eric not be put in harm’s way. The Bureau of Prisons knows this and there is established case law regarding the BOP sending someone into dangerous and life threatening scenarios. See Fitzharris v. Wolf, 702 F.2d 836, 839 (9th Cir. 1983); Gullatte v. Potts, 654 F.2d 1007, 1012-13 (5th Cir. 1981); Roba v. U.S., 604 F.2d 215, 218-19 (2d Cir. 1979).
Additionally, Eric is in this situation because of a bogus maximum management variable on his security profile. This has him erroneously being sent to a facility beyond his actual security level. He has no pending charges and no incident reports. He has no criminal history or disciplinary sanctions qualifying him for placement at a maximum security prison.
He intends to be released to Colorado to live with his wife and his two children in just over a year. We need proof to Eric, his family and legal team the management variable is removed so that he can be sent to a medium- or low-custody prison close to home and begin preparing for release. We also need guarantees Eric will not be cut off from his legal team and family with phone calls or visits or mail, as well as Eric having access to writing utensils, paper, envelopes and stamps.
Eric also has medical concerns going unaddressed, including swollen lymph nodes from unknown causes and a potential TBI (traumatic brain injury).
I am afraid for my friend Eric’s life, and I am asking that you intervene with the Bureau of Prisons and ask them not to send Eric King into harm’s way by sending him to USP Lee.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE EMAILING AND CALLING STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS EVERY WEEK.
As we continue to address the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and state representatives, we have received nonsensical and conflicting information from the BOP regarding Eric’s pending transfer to USP Lee. For now, Eric is waiting at USP Atlanta, and it seems we have come full circle: originally in 2018, Eric was told at USP Atlanta and USP Lee his life would be in danger by white supremacist gangs if he ever did a long stint at USP Lee, and Eric was originally told the dangers of USP Lee shortly after he was attacked by white supremacists at USP McCreary in 2018. The BOP is knowingly putting Eric at risk with these designated transfers 4 years later.
Here’s a list of mixed messages from BOP’s Mid-Atlantic Regional office, National office, and the DSCC when addressing them about Eric’s safety and prison designation:
BOP directly told Eric he IS designated for USP Lee; Englewood’s Associate Warden and multiple Lieutenants at Englewood (including Lt. Quezada) and USP Atlanta have said so
But BOP told supporters they can’t confirm his designation until he reaches USP Lee
But BOP has also angrily told supporters this week they “know” Eric isn’t designated for USP Lee and “it’s not necessary for people to keep calling” and the number of calls from “concerned individuals” has been “overwhelming”
BOP said Eric would be designated for USP Lee because it’s his “parent prison” (meaning a prison he was originally residing in before being under Marshall custody) despite Eric never doing time at USP Lee until AFTER he was in Marshall custody for being attacked in a broom closet at FCI Florence, and “the only way” to address his designation is with his unit team assigned to him at “his designated facility” USP Lee
But BOP also said Eric should request a case manager to contact the DSCC so they “can have a paper trail” despite not reaching USP Lee yet
But BOP ALSO said Grady County should send information to various BOP offices on Eric’s behalf before they COVID swabbed him to be transferred to USP Atlanta
But BOP ALSO had medical offices express concern and say we should address the transfer before Eric ever reaches USP Lee
But BOP ALSO said Senators and Congresspeople should address their offices before Eric reaches a designated prison
BOP said Eric’s court records of his March 2022 acquittal/not guilty for acts of self defense when attacked by guards in a FCI Florence broom closet in 2018 wouldn’t reach the BOP for another 45-60 days to address the management variable placed on him FROM THE ASSAULT HE WAS JUST ACQUITTED OF that’s upping his security from low/medium to max security prison
BOP confirmed Eric would be placed in segregation once reaching his designated prison due to COVID and his “security concerns”
BOP numerous times has transferred calls to the wrong department, such as medical or financial, or simply hang up on us when attempting to make inquiries on Eric’s behalf. Sometimes we’ve only been able to get past automated messages when other offices, prisons, or operators transfer us
All of this information proves that the BOP is not comfortable being confronted with orchestrating a situation that does nothing but put Eric in harm’s way, when there are plenty of options to designate Eric to another prison to finish his time, and Eric having no criminal history or disciplinary sanctions to ever justify sending him to a max security prison to begin with.
Congressman Joe Neguse and Congresswoman Cori Bush’s office have been thoroughly informed of Eric’s history and current danger to his life. Both offices have expressed interest in submitting inquiries to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) on Eric’s behalf!
Amnesty International has also contacted the BOP on Eric King’s behalf: “Transferring Eric King to a maximum-security facility across the country, far from his family and loved ones when he has such a short amount of time remaining on his sentence seems to be more retaliatory and punitive rather than necessary due to specific security concerns. Under Rule 59 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners, “Prisoners shall be allocated, to the extent possible, to prisons close to their homes or their places of social rehabilitation.” The BOP must revisit the issues within Eric King’s security profile which allow his eligibility to be at a maximum-security facility and the decision for him to be placed so far from where his family resides and where he intends to settle upon release.” Please SHARE the letter in it’s entirety here: https://supportericking.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Amnesty-International-USA-TG-re-transfer-of-Eric-King-inmate-number-27090-045-1.pdf
WE NEED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE EMAILING AND CALLING STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS EVERY WEEK.
Here’s an email template that can be added to to send to BOP, Senators, and Congresspeople, as well as the letter from Amnesty International on Eric’s behalf addressing BOP Director Michael Carvajal, and all the emails and phone numbers to call to demand Eric’s right to life. When contacting Congresspeople, they want to hear from constituents in their own districts, which is dictated by whatever your legal address is, to fill out Privacy Forms that address federal agencies (in this case the BOP/DOJ). Senator representatives aren’t based on districts, but whoever resides in their state. When calling BOP offices and prisons, try getting to an operator to avoid automated messages. DSCC has multiple options you may need to scan before reaching someone. You can tell the BOP that Congress and Amnesty International are also inquiring on Eric’s behalf.
I am writing about my friend who is a prisoner in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His name is Eric King, inmate number 27090-045. He was recently found not guilty on all counts at a trial in the U.S. District of Colorado. Eric was moved from FCI Englewood and was transferred from a private facility, Grady County Jail in Oklahoma, to USP Atlanta to wait for final transfer. He has been told he is en route to USP Lee, a maximum security prison in Virginia.
I am writing because I believe Eric should not be sent to USP Lee, and would be in danger if he were sent there. He is scheduled to be released from prison in December 2023, and wants to avoid anything that would infringe on this release date.
There is an active threat against his life. A few years ago, before being sent to Colorado, Eric was held in the Segregation Unit at USP Lee for approximately two weeks. Before that, at USP Atlanta, a white supremacist gang member told him he would be killed at USP Lee if he was released into general population. This was documented at USP Lee. Eric was originally transferred to USP Lee under the US Marshalls after he was attacked by white supremacist gangs at USP McCreary.
It is imperative that Eric not be put in harm’s way. I am asking that you not send him into a situation that is so dangerous. The Bureau of Prisons knows this and there is established case law regarding the BOP sending someone into dangerous and life threatening scenarios. See Fitzharris v. Wolf, 702 F.2d 836, 839 (9th Cir. 1983); Gullatte v. Potts, 654 F.2d 1007, 1012-13 (5th Cir. 1981); Roba v. U.S., 604 F.2d 215, 218-19 (2d Cir. 1979).
Additionally, Eric is in this situation because of a bogus maximum management variable on his security profile. This has him erroneously being sent to a facility beyond his actual security level. He has no pending charges and no incident reports. He has no criminal history or disciplinary sanctions qualifying him for placement at a maximum security prison. He intends to be released to Colorado to live with his wife and his two children in just over a year. I ask that this management variable be removed so that he can be sent to a medium- or low-custody prison close to home and begin preparing for release.
I am afraid for my friend Eric’s life, and I am asking that you intervene with the Bureau of Prisons and ask them not to send Eric King into harm’s way by sending him to USP Lee.
Eric King was COVID swabbed by guards at Grady County Jail in Oklahoma on the afternoon of April 13th, meaning imminent transfer to a federal prison. Eric has been told he’s designated for maximum security USP Lee in Virginia despite being threatened there by white supremacists and BOP KNOWING of this risk.
Eric has made it very clear that doing a “check-in” with BOP or being in the SHU at USP Lee away from general population is not a way to guarantee his safety; he can still easily be isolated in cells with white supremacists, and is at risk for having more extreme mail bans, phone bans, no visitations, and no reading materials. Even if Eric had a slim chance of being shipped to a place other than USP Lee, there’s still risk due to Eric’s extensive history of targeting from white supremacist inmates and prison guards, as well as BOP attempting to keep Eric’s treatment under the radar. We need eyes on Eric now more than ever as he approaches release in December 2023.
On behalf of Eric, Amnesty International’s USA Deputy Director of Research specified in a recent letter to Bureau of Prison’s Director Michael Carvajal about Eric’s recent acquittal at his federal jury trial last March for acts of self defense when attacked by guards at FCI Florence, noted his lack of disciplinary sanctions these last two years, and the known threat to his life if he is placed at USP Lee:
“Transferring Eric King to a maximum-security facility across the country, far from his family and loved ones when he has such a short amount of time remaining on his sentence seems to be more retaliatory and punitive rather than necessary due to specific security concerns. Under Rule 59 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners, “Prisoners shall be allocated, to the extent possible, to prisons close to their homes or their places of social rehabilitation.” The BOP must revisit the issues within Eric King’s security profile which allow his eligibility to be at a maximum-security facility and the decision for him to be placed so far from where his family resides and where he intends to settle upon release.” Please SHARE the letter in it’s entirety here: https://supportericking.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Amnesty-International-USA-TG-re-transfer-of-Eric-King-inmate-number-27090-045-1.pdf
We need people contacting the BOP and state representatives EVERY DAY. This is not a one-time call-in; this is dogged determination to guarantee Eric’s safety. The public could even try to request their own state representatives to have Eric placed in a prison that’s within their state’s jurisdiction, if other state sentators feel they cannot inquire the BOP about Eric’s placement in Virginia, as well as letting them know their colleagues are being held accountable to address Eric’s right to life. We need people to keep emailing and calling the Bureau of Prisons, USP Lee, representatives that are members of The Subcommittee overseeing the BOP, and Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Please see contact information for emails, phone calls and mailing addresses below:
I am writing about my friend who is a prisoner in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His name is Eric King, inmate number 27090-045. He was recently found not guilty on all counts at a trial in the U.S. District of Colorado. Eric was moved from FCI Englewood and is currently being transferred from a private facility, Grady County Jail in Oklahoma. He has been told he is en route to USP Lee, a maximum security prison in Virginia.
I am writing because I believe Eric should not be sent to USP Lee, and would be in danger if he were sent there. He is scheduled to be released from prison in December 2023, and wants to avoid anything that would infringe on this release date.
There is an active threat against his life. A few years ago, before being sent to Colorado, Eric was held in the Segregation Unit at USP Lee for approximately two weeks. Before that, at USP Atlanta, a white supremacist gang member told him he would be killed at USP Lee if he was released into general population. This was documented at USP Lee. Eric was originally transferred to USP Lee under the US Marshalls after he was attacked by white supremacist gangs at USP McCreary.
It is imperative that Eric not be put in harm’s way. I am asking that you not send him into a situation that is so dangerous. The Bureau of Prisons knows this and there is established case law regarding the BOP sending someone into dangerous and life threatening scenarios. See Fitzharris v. Wolf, 702 F.2d 836, 839 (9th Cir. 1983); Gullatte v. Potts, 654 F.2d 1007, 1012-13 (5th Cir. 1981); Roba v. U.S., 604 F.2d 215, 218-19 (2d Cir. 1979).
Additionally, Eric is in this situation because of a bogus maximum management variable on his security profile. This has him erroneously being sent to a facility beyond his actual security level. He has no pending charges and no incident reports. He intends to be released to Colorado to live with his wife and his two children in just over a year. I ask that this management variable be removed so that he can be sent to a medium- or low-custody prison close to home and begin preparing for release.
I am afraid for my friend Eric’s life, and I am asking that you intervene with the Bureau of Prisons and ask them not to send Eric King into harm’s way by sending him to USP Lee.
#EricKing UPDATE: Eric is en route to maximum security USP Lee despite being threatened there by white supremacists and the BOP knowing of this risk. We need people to contact the following EVERY DAY. See contact information for emails, phone calls, and mailing addresses below: pic.twitter.com/tYqihvIXRY
— Water Protector Legal Collective (@WaterIsLifeWPLC) April 16, 2022
