Prison Camp Inmate Sentenced To An Additional 5 Years In Prison For Escape

David J. Pederson, 55, formerly an inmate at the Federal Prison Camp at Marion, Illinois, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Benton to a term of 60 months in prison for escaping from custody while on an unescorted transfer via bus between that facility and one in Council Bluffs, Iowa, announced Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Pederson previously pled guilty to the escape charge on July 11th. At the time of the escape on March 26, 2013, Pederson was serving the final few months of a 71 month federal sentence for bank robbery imposed in the Southern District of Iowa.

Evidence supporting the guilty plea and sentence showed that Pederson left his authorized transfer route while at the Greyhound bus station in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and obtained a realistic looking air pistol from a retail store. Using the air pistol, he car-jacked two separate vehicles, taking a total of four individuals hostage including two women and two children. The first car-jacking victim was able to escape even though Pederson had bound her hands. He was later arrested with the three hostages from the second car-jacking, a mother and her two children, in Nashville, Illinois. On May 7, 2013, Pederson pled guilty in Jefferson County Circuit Court to charges relating to the car-jackings and was sentenced to a 20 year term of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The 60 month federal sentence was imposed consecutively to the 20 year state sentence and any portion of his previous 71 month federal sentence which the Federal Bureau of Prisons determines is left to be served. Pederson was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and placed on a 3 year term of supervised release to follow his incarceration.

Following sentencing, Pederson was returned to the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections to first serve out his 20 year state sentence.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service and the Mt. Vernon Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.