Inmate At FCI-Berlin Sentenced For Possessing Weapon

          CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Jean Morales-Rivera was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a prohibited object while an inmate at FCI-Berlin. The object was a homemade weapon, commonly referred to as a “shank,” made out of plastic sharpened to a point at one end with gauze wrapped around one the other end to serve as a handle or grip.

          According to the facts set forth in the plea agreement and statements made at the sentencing hearing, Morales-Rivera removed an article from his waist band and threw it in a trash receptacle at the prison. A correctional officer saw Morales-Rivera throw the object into the receptacle and retrieved the weapon.

          Morales-Rivera is presently serving a 93-month sentence for carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence imposed by the court today is consecutive to the sentence Morales-Rivera is now serving.

          The case was investigated by the staff at the Federal Bureau of Prisons at FCI-Berlin. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.

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