PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. — Two former employees of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) have been sentenced after their actions led to the death of an inmate at a federal prison in Prince George County. The case highlights serious lapses in duty, including deliberate neglect of medical care for an inmate, which ultimately resulted in his death.
On May 7 and May 8, 2025, former BOP lieutenant Shronda Covington and former BOP nurse Tonya Farley were sentenced in connection with the death of 47-year-old inmate W.W. at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Petersburg. The inmate died after suffering from severe medical neglect over the course of several hours in January 2021.
Covington, who was on duty on January 9, 2021, was convicted of violating W.W.’s civil rights by “showing deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs.” According to court documents, Covington was aware that W.W. required urgent medical attention but failed to take the necessary steps to provide it. This neglect lasted for 30 hours, from January 9 to 10, 2021, during which W.W. endured serious physical harm that ultimately led to his death.
Farley, a nurse responsible for W.W.’s medical care, was also found guilty of lying to federal investigators about the incident. Both Covington and Farley misled authorities about the events leading up to W.W.’s death, hindering the investigation into their misconduct.
The sentences for the two former BOP employees were handed down by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Covington received 12 months in prison, followed by one year of home confinement and three years of supervised release. Farley was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release.
In response to the sentences, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of accountability in correctional facilities: “Federal correctional officials who fail to do their jobs at the cost of inmate safety should be held accountable,” she said. “Further, officials who obstruct investigations of their misconduct violate the public’s trust.”
The case also underscores the critical responsibility of correctional staff to ensure the safety and well-being of inmates. U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia remarked, “Custody includes a responsibility for safety and well-being. Corrections staff must uphold that responsibility for persons in their care – or they will be held accountable for their failure to do so, like the defendants in this case.”
In addition to Covington and Farley, a third former BOP employee, Michael Anderson, had previously pleaded guilty for his role in the incident. Anderson, also a former lieutenant at FCI Petersburg, was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in W.W.’s death.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect and misconduct in correctional facilities, with the Justice Department sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.
