MINNEAPOLIS (GreaterGC) — Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, has been moved to a federal prison in Texas nearly nine months after being stabbed at a different facility, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.
Chauvin, 47, is now housed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Big Spring, a low-security prison. Previously, he was held at FCI Tucson in Arizona as he served a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights and a 22 1/2-year state sentence for second-degree murder.
The transfer follows an attack in which Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by a former gang leader and FBI informant.
Thomas Lane, another former Minneapolis officer who held down George Floyd’s legs as he struggled to breathe, was released from federal prison in Colorado on Tuesday, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Lane, 41, had served a three-year sentence for aiding and abetting manslaughter.
In his guilty plea, Lane admitted to intentionally helping restrain Floyd in a manner that he knew was dangerous and led to Floyd’s death. He acknowledged hearing Floyd say he couldn’t breathe, noticing Floyd fall silent with no pulse, and seeing signs of loss of consciousness.
The killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, remains one of the most significant catalysts in the global reckoning over racial injustice. Chauvin, who is white, knelt on the neck of Floyd, a Black man, for over nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly stated that he could not breathe. This event, captured on video by a bystander, sparked widespread protests across the United States and globally.
During the incident, other Minneapolis police officers participated in restraining Floyd. Thomas Lane, who is white, held down Floyd’s legs, while J. Alexander Kueng, who is Black, knelt on Floyd’s back. Tou Thao, who is Hmong American, prevented bystanders from intervening. Floyd’s death led to the conviction of all four officers involved, with charges ranging from second-degree murder to aiding and abetting manslaughter and civil rights violations.
Chauvin, 47, is currently serving concurrent federal and state sentences: a 21-year sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights and a 22 1/2-year state sentence for second-degree murder. Initially held at FCI Tucson, a medium-security prison in Arizona, Chauvin faced threats due to his high-profile status, leading his attorney, Eric Nelson, to advocate for his protection.
Chauvin is making a longshot attempt to overturn his federal guilty plea, arguing that new evidence proves he didn’t cause Floyd’s death. If this bid fails, Chauvin won’t be released until 2038.
John Turscak, who is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes committed as a member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, attacked Chauvin on November 24, 2023. Turscak told investigators he targeted Chauvin due to his infamy from killing Floyd.
FCI Tucson, a medium-security prison, has faced ongoing security issues and staffing shortages. Chauvin’s lawyer at the time, Eric Nelson, had pushed for Chauvin to be kept out of the general population and away from other inmates, anticipating he would be a target.
Turscak, charged with attempted murder, informed correctional officers that he would have killed Chauvin if they hadn’t intervened promptly.
