Federal Correctional Complex, Butner
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Location | Mangum Township, Durham County / Dutchville Township, Granville County, North Carolina |
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Status | Operational |
Security class | Minimum, Low, Medium and administrative security (FMC Butner is a medical facility) |
Population | 5,000 (four facilities) |
Managed by | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
The Federal Correctional Complex, Butner (FCC Butner) is a United States federal prison complex for men near Butner, North Carolina. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. FCC Butner is about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Raleigh, the state capital. It includes the Bureau's largest medical complex, which operates a drug treatment program and specializes in oncology and behavioral science.[1] Among its inmates was Bernie Madoff, who was convicted for perpetrating the largest Ponzi scheme in history. He died at the prison in April 2021.[2]
The complex consists of four facilities:
- Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Low (FCI Butner Low): a low-security facility, opened in 1995.[3]
- Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Medium I (FCI Butner Medium I): a medium-security facility, opened in 1976[4]
- Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Medium II (FCI Butner Medium II): a medium-security facility, opened in 2006[5]
- Federal Medical Center, Butner (FMC Butner): a facility which houses inmates of all security levels with health issues, opened in 1995.[6]
The complex lies in an unincorporated area on the county line between Durham County to the west and Granville County to the east.[7][8] On the Durham County side, the portion of the prison is in Mangum Township,[9] while on the Granville County side it is in Dutchville Township.[10]
Notable incidents
[edit]Madoff assault
[edit]On March 18, 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bernie Madoff, the New York financier serving a 150-year sentence at FCI Butner for running a Ponzi scheme that cost investors billions of dollars, was assaulted by another inmate in December 2009. Citing three sources, a current inmate, a former inmate, and a prison employee, the newspaper reported that the assailant was an inmate serving time for a drug conviction who believed that Madoff owed him money. The inmate reported that Madoff suffered a broken nose, fractured ribs, and cuts to his head and face. In response to the report, Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Denise Simmons said, "We have no knowledge or information to confirm he was assaulted."[11]
Murder plot
[edit]On November 16, 2011, James Lukinoff, an inmate at FCI Butner, was indicted for planning to assault and kill an FBI agent involved in investigating the crime for which he was sent to prison. The indictment alleged that, from February 2009 to April 2011, Lukinoff developed and pursued a plan to purchase a suppressor and have a friend or family member store it until his release from prison. Once released, Lukinoff planned to retrieve the suppressor and his firearm and kill the agent. Lukinoff pleaded guilty to retaliating against a federal official by threat on June 20, 2012. He is currently being held at the Federal Medical Center, Butner and is scheduled for release in 2024.[citation needed]
Notable inmates
[edit]High-profile crimes
[edit]Inmate Name | Register Number | Photo | Status | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mel Reynolds | 07476-424 Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine | ![]() | Sentence commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2001; served his sentence at the minimum-security prison camp.[12] | Illinois Congressman from 1993 to 1995; convicted in 1995 of sexual assault, obstruction of justice and solicitation of child pornography in connection with his relationship with a 16-year-old campaign worker; convicted in 1997 of bank fraud.[13][14] |
Bernard Madoff | 61727-054 | ![]() | Served 11 years of a 150-year sentence until his death on April 14, 2021.[15] | Former financier; pleaded guilty in 2009 to fraud, money laundering, perjury and theft for perpetrating the largest Ponzi scheme in US history, robbing thousands of investors of over $65 billion over 20 years; the story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed.[16][17] Died in 2021.[2] |
John Hinckley Jr. | 00137-177 | ![]() | Released to a psychiatric hospital in 1981. | Attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1981, as the culmination of an effort to impress teen actress Jodie Foster; found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982.[18] |
R. Kelly | 09627-035 | ![]() | Serving a 31 year sentence, Scheduled for release on December 21, 2045. | Former R&B singer and music artist, convicted of racketeering, violations of the Mann Act, producing child pornography, sex trafficking, and child exploitation charges. |
Jon Burge | 50504-018 | Released from custody in 2015; served 4 years.[19] | Former Chicago Police Department commander; convicted in 2010 of obstruction of justice and perjury for torturing more than 200 criminal suspects between 1972 and 1991, eliciting dozens of false confessions.[20][21] | |
Scott Kevin Fairlamb | 26840-509 | Released on June 8, 2023. | Former MMA fighter pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer during the United States Capitol attack. | |
Sami Osmakac | 55958-018 | Serving a 40-year sentence, scheduled for release in 2046. Currently at USP McCreary. | Convicted of one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, and one count of possession of an unregistered automatic firearm in connection with a terrorist plot | |
Christopher Paul Hasson | 64544-037 | ![]() | Scheduled for release in 2029 | Convicted for possession of tramadol without a prescription and illegal possession of firearms and the firearm silencers. |
Jesse Jackson Jr. | 32451-016 | ![]() | Served 30 months. Released on the morning of June 22, 2015, after spending three months serving his remaining sentence in a halfway house.[22] | Illinois Congressman from 1995 to 2012, and son of Jesse Jackson. In early February 2013, Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, conspiracy, making false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, and criminal forfeiture—having used about $750,000 in campaign money for over 3,000 personal purchases that included a Michael Jackson fedora and cashmere capes.[23] |
Roman Seleznev | 04385-093 | Served 10 years of a 27-year sentence,[24] released in a prisoner exchange on August 1, 2024. | Russian hacker; convicted in 2017 on 38 counts of hacking, wire fraud, and racketeering for stealing and selling millions of credit card numbers, causing more than $169 million in damages to businesses and banks.[24] | |
Scott Tyree | 45380-083 | Released in September 2021; served 17 years. | Kidnapper of Alicia Kozakiewicz.[25][26][27][28] | |
Nicholas Ochs | 12336-122 | Serving a 4 year sentence; scheduled for release in 2026 | Leader of the Proud Boys Hawaii chapter. Arrested for participating in the U.S. Capitol attack. | |
John Russell Whitt | 19945-057 | Transferred from FCI Ashland;[29] scheduled for release in 2037 | Sentenced to two consecutive 26 to 32 year sentences for the murders of his wife and son.[30] | |
Gregg Ramsdell | 01343-120 | Surrendered to FCI Butner on December 8, 2020; released on December 3, 2021. | Sentenced to 12 months for fraud and stolen valor.[31] | |
James Von Brunn | 07128-016 | ![]() | Died while awaiting trial in 2010 | White supremacist who perpetrated the 2009 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting, which killed an officer.[32][33] |
Ted Kaczynski | 04475-046 | Serving multiple life sentences before his death in 2023 | American mathematician and domestic terrorist known as the "Unabomber" who was convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder in 1998.[34] |
Organized crime
[edit]Inmate Name | Register Number | Photo | Status | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela | 14023-059 | ![]() | Died in 2022 while serving a 30-year sentence; had been scheduled for release in 2029. | Co-founder of the now-defunct Cali Cartel, which was responsible for as much as 80% of the cocaine brought into the US in the 1970s and 1980s; co-founder Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela is also serving a 30-year sentence.[35] |
Carmine Persico | 74666-158 | Died at Duke University Medical Center[36] while serving a combined sentence of 139 years; was eligible for release in 2050.[37] | Mafia figure; former Colombo crime family Boss; convicted in 1986 of murder, loansharking, bribery and extortion, all in aid of racketeering, in order to control and profit from the concrete industry in New York City.[38][39] | |
John Connolly | 22928-038 Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine | Transferred to state prison in 2011; served 10 years.[40] | Former FBI Agent; convicted in 2002 of racketeering conspiracy for aiding Irish Mob figure Whitey Bulger; currently serving a 40-year sentence in a Florida state prison for the murder of a witness.[41] | |
Gerard Ouimette | 02519-070 | Served 21 years until his death in 2015 | Mafia figure; former Patriarca crime family associate; convicted of extortion | |
Vittorio "Vic" Amuso | 38740-079 | ![]() | Serving a life sentence. | Boss of the current Lucchese crime family in New York City; convicted in 1992 of racketeering and murder in connection with nine murders, as well as extortion, gambling and labor corruption.[42] |
Peter Gotti | 99109-012 | Served 15 years of a 25-year sentence until his death in 2021 | Mafia figure; former Gambino crime family boss; convicted of racketeering and other crimes |
Financial crimes
[edit]Inmate Name | Register Number | Photo | Status | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Troy Titus | 58299-083 | Serving a 30-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2034. Currently at FCI Ashland. | Former real estate investor; convicted in 2009 of fraud, money laundering and other charges for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme in which 30 victims lost over $5 million; Titus's story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed.[43][44] | |
Lee Farkas | 43560-018 | Sentenced to 30 years; originally scheduled for release in 2037.[45] Compassionately released on September 29, 2020.[46] | Former Chairman of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corporation; convicted in 2011 of fraud for masterminding a $2.9 billion scheme that led to the 2009 collapse of Colonial Bank; the story was featured on the CNBC program American Greed.[47][48] | |
Samuel Israel | 84430-054 | ![]() | Serving a 22-year sentence. Currently at RRM Dallas; scheduled for release in 2026.[49] | Founder of the now defunct Bayou Hedge Fund Group; pleaded guilty in 2008 to defrauding investors of $400 million; attempted to fake his own suicide to avoid prison; the story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed.[50][51] |
Al Parish | 12031-171[permanent dead link] | Sentenced to 24 years; originally scheduled for release in 2029. Compassionately released on March 24, 2021.[52] | Former Charleston Southern University economist, who was sentenced to federal prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to financial fraud.[53][54] Nearly 300 people lost up to $66 million invested in Parish Economic's private investment funds. Before being charged with fraud, Parish was known as a flamboyant local financial expert dubbed 'Economan',[55] and was known for his $1.2 million pen collection, including a $170,000 diamond-encrusted pen.[56] Included in the fraud was over $4 million set aside for athletic facilities improvements at Charleston Southern University. | |
Michael Parnell | 96286-020 | Serving a 20-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2031. | Former Peanut Broker convicted of conspiracy, fraud and other federal charges.[57][58] |
Espionage
[edit]Inmate Name | Register Number | Photo | Status | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Walker | 22449-037 | ![]() | Died in custody in 2014 while serving a 30-year sentence.[59] | Former Chief Warrant Officer for the US Navy; pleaded guilty to espionage in 1986 for selling classified documents to the Soviet Union. Co-conspirator Jerry Whitworth is also serving a life sentence.[60] |
Jonathan Pollard | 09185-016 | ![]() | Granted parole and released in 2015 after serving 30 years of a life sentence[61] | Former intelligence analyst for the United States government. In 1987, as part of a plea agreement, Pollard pleaded guilty to spying for and providing top-secret classified information to Israel. He was sentenced to life in prison for violations of the Espionage Act.[62] |
Other
[edit]Inmate Name | Register Number | Photo | Status | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Roger Loughry, Sr. | 43691-037 | Serving a 30-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2034.[63] | Administrator of "The Cache," an online bulletin board where hundreds of child pornographers from around the world shared images and videos of children being molested; convicted in 2013 of advertising and distributing child pornography.[64][65] |
In popular culture
[edit]- In the final episode of the television series Better Call Saul, the series' main character Saul Goodman refers to Butner as his ideal prison, and unsuccessfully attempts to serve his sentence there.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Archived version of "FCC Butner" from BOP website. Archived at the Internet Archive.
- ^ a b "Bernie Madoff dies in prison at 82". WXYZ Detroit. April 14, 2021.
- ^ "Federal Correctional Complex, Butner (FCI Butner Low)".
- ^ "Federal Correctional Complex, Butner (FCI Butner Medium I)".
- ^ "Federal Correctional Complex, Butner (FCI Butner Medium II)".
- ^ "Federal Medical Center, Butner (FMC Butner)".
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Durham County, NC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 6 (PDF p. 7/19). Retrieved 2022-08-15.
Butner Federal Correctional Complx
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Granville County, NC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 8 (PDF p. 9/14). Retrieved 2022-08-15.
Butner Federal Correctional Complx
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Mangum township, NC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 2 (PDF p. 3/3). Retrieved 2022-08-15.
Butner Federal Correctional Complx
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Dutchville township, NC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
Butner Federal Correctional Complx
- ^ Searcey, Dionne; Efrati, Amir (March 18, 2010). "Madoff Beaten in Prison". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ Reynolds, Mel (January 29, 2001). "Why so little work in prisons' work camp?". USA Today. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ "Ex-Congressman Reynolds & wife indicted for fraud". CNN. November 7, 1996. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ Dorning, Mike (January 21, 2001). "Clinton Grants Clemency, Frees Reynolds". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ Lee, MJ (March 20, 2014). "Madoff: Politics, remorse, Wall Street". Politico. POLITICO LLC.
- ^ Henriques, Diana B. (March 12, 2009). "Madoff Goes to Jail After Guilty Pleas". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Kouwe, Zachery (July 14, 2009). "Madoff Arrives at Federal Prison in North Carolina". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ "John Hinckley, Jr. . Reagan . WGBH American Experience". PBS. Archived from the original on 2011-02-13. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ^ "Former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge Reports To Prison". CBS Chicago. CBS Local Media. March 16, 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ Walberg, Matthew; Lee, William (June 28, 2010). "Burge found guilty - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Haggerty, Ryan (January 22, 2011). "Burge sentence leaves torn emotions - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ "Jesse Jackson Jr. leaves halfway house for D.C. home". chicagobusiness.com. 21 June 2015.
- ^ Skiba, Katherine; Coen, Jeff; Venteicher, Wes (2013-02-20). "Jacksons' guilt a tale of excess". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b "Russian Cyber-Criminal Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Hacking and Credit Card Fraud Scheme". www.justice.gov. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "Kidnapping, rape victim asks to testify in relocation hearing for attacker". 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Congress Questions Transfer of Child Sex Criminal to Victim's Community". 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Man convicted in kidnapping of Pittsburgh-area teen released from jail". WPXI-TV. 1 February 2019.
- ^ "Tyree v. United States, No. 5:14-CT-3158-BO | Casetext Search + Citator".
- ^ "Two decades ago, a 10-year-old was killed. Now, his father's been charged with murder". 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Man to spend rest of life behind bars for killing wife, boy whose remains were found under Mebane billboard". 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Max Prison Sentence + Restitution For Discharged Veteran Who Faked Military Honors And Combat-Related Mental Health Illness To Claim VA Benefits". www.justice.gov. 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "US Holocaust museum murder suspect dies aged 89". BBC News. January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
- ^ "J. W. von Brunn, Accused Museum Gunman, Dies at 89". New York Times. January 7, 2010. p. B19.
- ^ "Kaczynski Sentenced to Four Life Terms". The Washington Post. May 5, 1998. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Cali Cartel Leaders Plead Guilty to Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges". US Department of Justice. September 26, 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Legendary New York Mob Boss Carmine Persico, Head of Colombo Family, Dead at Age 85". nbcnewyork.com. 7 March 2019.
- ^ Capeci, Jerry (May 25, 2011). "Turncoat Capo Fingers Persico Family Crony In Mob War Rubout". TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ Arnold H. Lubasch (June 14, 1986). "Persico Convicted In Colombo Trial". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (November 20, 1986). "U.S. Jury Convicts Eight As Members Of Mob Commission". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Serrano, Richard A. (May 8, 2011). "100 FBI retirees defend disgraced Boston agent". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ Phillips, Rich. Rogue FBI agent sentenced to 40 years in mob hit. CNN, 2009-01-15.
- ^ "Key Mafia Figure Guilty of Murder. Racketeering". Los Angeles Times. June 16, 1992.
- ^ McGlone, Tim (2010-04-16). "Disbarred attorney sentenced to 30 years for fraud | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com". HamptonRoads.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- ^ "FBI — Real Estate Investor, Disbarred Lawyer Sentenced 30 Years for Massive Fraud Schemes". Fbi.gov. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- ^ Ginsberg, Esq., Nina; Fahringer, Esq., Herald Price; Dubno, Esq., Erica T. (October 8, 2013). "LEE BENTLEY FARKAS, Movant against UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent: Memorandum of Law in Support of Amended Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255" (PDF). leefarkas.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ Clough, Craig (15 September 2020). "Jailed Ex-Taylor Bean Exec Gets Compassionate Release". Law360. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Schoenberg, Tom. "Ex-Taylor Bean Chairman Farkas Found Guilty on All 14 Counts in Fraud Case". Bloomberg. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Protess, Ben (June 30, 2011). "Mortgage Executive Receives 30-Year Sentence - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross (June 25, 2012). "A Con Man Who Lives Between Truth and Fiction". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Authorities: Samuel Israel definitely faked death | 7online.com". Abclocal.go.com. June 12, 2008. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Bhattarai, Abha (July 4, 2008). "Fund Manager Turned Fugitive Is Sent to Prison". The New York Times.
- ^ Balchunas, Caroline (25 March 2021). "Al Parish still owes fraud victims nearly $63 million as feds grant release from prison". ABC News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Smith, Bruce (5 October 2007). "S.C. economist pleads guilty in fraud". USA Today. The Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-09-29. [verification needed]
- ^ Stock, Kyle; Schuyler Kropf (26 June 2008). "Al Parish discusses the collapse of his investment empire". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2009-09-29. [verification needed]
- ^ "Economan: Superthief". American Greed. CNBC. Retrieved 2009-09-29. [verification needed]
- ^ Associated Press (9 November 2006). "College Professor Displays $170,000 Pen". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Vaccines but no 'compassionate release' for Parnell brothers prior to May hearings". April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Parnell brothers are also asking for 'compassionate release'". March 3, 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Becca; Ciara, Barbara (August 29, 2014). "Notorious Navy spy John Walker dies in NC federal prison". WKTR News VA, NC. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ Morain, Dan (1988-12-10). "Whitworth Given 365-Year Sentence : Castigated by Judge, Spy Also Is Fined $410,000; Penalty Harshest Since '53 - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ^ "After 30 Years, Jonathan Pollard Released From American Prison." Haaretz. November 20, 2015.http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.687303
- ^ "Top US Officials: Free Jonathan Pollard Now". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Loughry v. Campbell". FindACase. LRC, Inc. December 5, 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ Associated Press (February 1, 2013). "Maryland man sentenced to 30 years in Ind. on charges he helped run child porn sharing website". Fox News. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ Wilson, Charles (February 1, 2013). "Maryland Man Sentenced for Role in Child Porn Ring". ABC News. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
External links
[edit]- Official profile from the Federal Bureau of Prisons
- "FCI Butner Medium II (design)." John J. Kirlin, LLC.
- "Butner Federal Correctional Institution." Moseley Architects.