Federal Prison Nurse Indicted for Abusive Sexual Conduct with an Inmate

MINNEAPOLIS – An Iowa woman has been indicted for abusive sexual contact with an inmate and making false statements to federal law enforcement about the interaction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to court documents, Jessica Lynn Larson, 37, was employed as a nurse by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) assigned to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Rochester, Minnesota.  Larson entered into a romantic relationship with an incarcerated inmate, Victim A, at FMC Rochester.  Over the course of their relationship, Larson exchanged sexually explicit letters with Victim A. On April 3, 2024, Larson and Victim A had a sexual encounter in a shower room. Shortly afterwards, other nursing staff reported Larson’s inappropriate relationship with Victim A, prompting a search Victim A’s cell, where they discovered hidden letters from Larson.  Board of Prison (BOP) officials then found letters from Victim A inside Larson’s backpack.  After being confronted about her relationship with Victim A, Larson submitted a BOP indicate report in which she falsely accused Victim A of sexual assault and claimed that he had threatened to hurt her children if she refused his sexual advances or reported his assault.  Two months later, after being placed on administrative leave, Larson drove more than 600 miles from her home in Iowa to Cincinnati, Ohio, to mail a love letter to Victim A who had been transferred to another BOP facility.

“In Minnesota, we take sexual abuse—particularly when committed by those in positions of authority—very seriously,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Likewise, lying to the United States is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute defendants who commit these crimes.”   

Larson will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on April 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General and the Bureau of Prisons.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.