A federal grand jury has indicted Damonta King, a 19-year-old inmate at FCI Schuylkill in Minersville, Pennsylvania, on charges of possessing a weapon while incarcerated. The indictment was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that in January 2026, a corrections officer found King with a prison-made weapon during an inmate pat down. The weapon is commonly referred to as a “shank.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, King faces up to five years in prison, supervised release after imprisonment, and a fine. Sentencing would be determined by a judge who will consider federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.
Authorities emphasized that indictments are only allegations and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
