Federal Bureau of Prisons Shaken as Officer Sentenced for Inmate Abuse
Ex-Correctional Officer Andrew Jones Gets 8-Year Sentence for Sexual Abuse at FCI Dublin
By Richard Luthmann
(OAKLAND, CA) - A former correctional officer of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Andrew Jones, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, followed by a decade of supervised release, for sexually abusing multiple female inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. This marks the longest sentence yet for such abuse at FCI Dublin.
Jones, 36, from Clovis, California, had entered a guilty plea to the charges on August 17, with U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issuing the sentence. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco expressed the Justice Department's commitment to eradicating misconduct within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, underscoring that employees who exploit their positions will face accountability.
The investigation, spearheaded by Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), revealed a pervasive culture of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin involving various employees, including the Warden and the Chaplain.
U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California highlighted that the investigation has exposed criminal activities by multiple employees at FCI Dublin, with seven correctional officers convicted of felonies related to the sexual abuse of female inmates and an eighth charged. Ramsey assured that the Justice Department will persist in holding any correctional officer who breaches their duty of care accountable.
Per his plea agreement, Jones admitted to abusing his position of authority over female prisoners in the Food Services Department at FCI Dublin between July 2020 and June 2021. He confessed to receiving oral sex from and having sexual intercourse with three female prisoners in various locations near the FCI Dublin kitchen.
The government's sentencing memorandum detailed how Jones maintained control over his victims through intimidation, threats, and manipulation, exploiting them for his sexual gratification while ensuring their silence.
Jones's guilty plea encompassed six counts of sexual abuse of a ward involving three inmates and one count of making false statements to the DOJ-OIG. He is one of eight correctional officers charged with federal crimes related to sexual misconduct at FCI Dublin in recent years and the fourth to be sentenced, with all current sentences exceeding the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines for such crimes.
In August, survivors of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin initiated a class action lawsuit in California federal court against the BOP, alleging systemic failure to address and prevent abuse.
The lawsuit claims that the BOP has been aware of ongoing issues of staff sexual misconduct at FCI Dublin for decades yet has consistently failed to take adequate measures to protect inmates. This negligence has led to severe abuse at the facility.
The all-women's prison was infamously referred to as "The rape club" by prisoners and workers alike. The investigation highlighted a deeply ingrained culture of permissiveness and toxicity at FCI Dublin, which allowed for prolonged sexual misconduct, systematic cover-ups, and retaliation against inmates who attempted to expose the abuse.