FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - September 9, 2008

BUTNER INMATE RECEIVES 10 YEARS FOR ASSAULT CHARGE

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court here today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced SCOTT DELL GUSTIN, 33, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner, North Carolina, to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a one-count Criminal Indictment on July 18, 2007 charging assault inflicting serious injury. On June 30, 2008, a federal jury found GUSTIN guilty of the charge. On August 22, 2005, several inmates who were incarcerated in the Special Housing Unit at the Federal Correctional Institute in Butner, North Carolina, were taken outside for their daily recreation period. Inmate GUSTIN and his victim along with two other inmates were placed in the recreation area. The guard, assigned to guard them, briefly returned to the Special Housing Unit. While the guard was gone GUSTIN approached his victim, suddenly knocking him down. GUSTIN began kicking his victim about the head and upper torso. GUSTIN continued the assault until he decided to stop. As the victim lay on the ground motionless, the correctional officers responded, securing the other inmates and removed the victim from the area. The victim was subsequently transported to University of North Carolina Hospital for emergency surgery to remove his ruptured spleen.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant United Attorney Michael Lockridge and Assistant United States Attorney Gaston Williams served as prosecutors for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.