A correctional officer and his former supervisor from the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia have been found guilty of violating an inmate’s constitutional rights and attempting to cover up the incident, according to an announcement by United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Jahaan Andrews, 34, a correctional officer, and Georgia Malloy, 58, a lieutenant who supervised Andrews at the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP), were convicted following a trial. The charges stemmed from events that took place on October 6, 2020.
Both Andrews and Malloy were indicted in September of last year along with another correctional officer, Oneil Murray, 31. Murray pleaded guilty earlier this month. All three faced charges including deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and aiding and abetting, falsification of records, among other related offenses.
According to evidence presented at trial, Andrews detained an inmate identified as Inmate 1 because he was allegedly wearing the wrong color jumpsuit. Together with Malloy, a correctional sergeant (charged separately), and another officer, they escorted Inmate 1 to his cell for a strip search and change of clothing. Once inside the cell, several officers ordered Inmate 1 to undress before physically assaulting him by punching and kicking him multiple times until he fell to the ground. The injuries sustained required hospitalization for facial trauma as well as injuries to ribs and scrotum; emergency surgery was needed.
After incidents involving use of force by correctional officers at PDP facilities, policy requires those involved or who witness such force to file reports before their shift ends. Following this particular assault, both defendants worked with others to falsify official records in an effort to impede investigations by authorities including the FBI.
The reports submitted by Andrews and Murray described Inmate 1 as more aggressive than he actually was while omitting key details about the force used against him. Malloy’s investigation report similarly minimized information about what occurred during the incident. The documentation also falsely stated that no force was used by the supervising sergeant during the event.
If sentenced at maximum levels allowed under law, Andrews could face up to 35 years in prison while Malloy faces up to 40 years.
“Correctional officers hold extraordinary power over those in their custody, and with that power comes a clear obligation to protect individuals’ rights while in custody,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “The defendants abused that authority by violently assaulting an inmate and then attempting to conceal their misconduct. This guilty verdict affirms that civil rights violations, especially by those sworn to uphold the law, will be investigated and prosecuted, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
“Let these convictions show that no law enforcement officer is above the law,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to aggressively investigate potential abuses of power and civil rights violations in our community. We remain steadfast in investigating and bringing to justice those who abuse their authority.”
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Michael Miller.
