Inmate at USP Lee Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing A Weapon

ABINGDON, Va. – An inmate at USP Lee in Jonesville, Virginia pleaded guilty yesterday to unlawfully possessing a weapon inside the prison.

According to court documents, Andrew Bryant, 35, was subjected to a search while being escorted within the prison and a weapon was found inside his right shoe. The weapon was approximately 4-and-one-half inches long and appeared to be made from locker metal and was sharpened to a point on one end with a handle made of duct tape with bed linens on the other end.

Bryant pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of possessing contraband in a prison, that contraband being a weapon. Bryant will be sentenced on September 27, 2021, and according to a plea agreement, faces up to an additional 42 months in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons are investigating the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Luckie is prosecuting the case.