Federal inmate sentenced to additional prison time for escaping from Atlanta’s federal penitentiary prison camp

ATLANTA - Dennis Kitchens has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison for escaping from the minimum-security camp at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta (USP Atlanta) over 10 years ago.

“Kitchens evaded law enforcement for years after his escape in 2006, but he was ultimately caught and returned to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Inmates who escape from prison threaten the safety of our communities. Eventually, the road will run out for them and they will be found and prosecuted, as in this case.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court:  In 2004, Kitchens was sentenced to serve time in prison after a conviction for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.  From January 2006 through June 2006, Kitchens was assigned to serve his time at USP Atlanta.  USP Atlanta is a medium-security federal prison for male inmates operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. USP Atlanta also has a detention center for pre-trial inmates and a satellite prison camp for minimum-security male inmates. On June 11, 2006, Kitchens escaped from the prison camp.

After his escape, U.S Marshals worked to locate Kitchens, but he evaded detection by law enforcement for over 10 years.  On January 27, 2017, a Cobb County Georgia Police Officer pulled Kitchens over after he cut across lanes of traffic without warning. Kitchens gave the officer a false name, but the officer fingerprinted him at the scene and discovered his true identity.  At the time, Kitchens possessed approximately 10.5 grams of cocaine and 29 OxyContin pills. 

On March 6, 2018, Kitchens pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on that charge.  

Dennis Kitchens, 57, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for escaping from prison.  This term of imprisonment will run consecutive to his prior federal term of imprisonment resulting from his 2004 conviction.  Kitchens was convicted of the escape on April 24, 2018, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolee Porter prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.