Former BOP Lieutenant Arrested and Pleaded Guilty to Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and Falsifying a Document with Intent to Obstruct a Federal Investigation

On November 21, 2023, a former BOP Lieutenant assigned to the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy (USP Big Sandy) in Inez, Kentucky, was arrested and pleaded guilty to a Criminal Information charging one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsifying a document with intent to obstruct a federal investigation.  Ryan Elliott pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Kentucky.  According to the Information, on or about March 26, 2021, Elliott willfully deprived an inmate of rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by striking an inmate repeatedly without legal justification in the lieutenants’ office, and then wrote a false report regarding the incident.  Also, according to the Information, on or about April 30, 2021, Elliott falsified a document with intent to obstruct the OIG investigation by writing an internal memorandum intended to cover up the assault of a separate inmate by other BOP staff.  The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Lexington Locale and the FBI.