Bankman-Fried Prison Raided Over Violence Allegations

Key Points:

• Federal investigators coordinated an operation at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are detained.
• The operation follows growing concerns over violent incidents, poor conditions, and multiple inmate deaths at the Bankman-Fried prison.

According to Bloomberg, federal investigators flocked to Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday, where high-profile detainees Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are being held.

Read more: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Now in Same Prison With Bankman-Fried

Federal Investigators Conduct Operation at Bankman-Fried Prison Amid Safety Concerns

The “interagency operation,” officials said, was led by the Bureau of Prisons, the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, and other law enforcement agencies as part of continued efforts to correct persistent problems at the facility.

The Bureau of Prisons said the operation was being done to provide a safe environment for both staff and the incarcerated population. Officials would not discuss the nature or extent of the operation, citing safety and operational integrity. BOP made clear that the effort had been pre-planned and that, again, there was “no active threat” at the facility.

The Bankman-Fried prison, New York City’s only federal detention centre, has faced growing calls for reform amid reports of degraded conditions, rampant violence, and inmate deaths. The Justice Department and Bureau of Prisons have called for systemic reforms to uproot the root causes of these problems and punish those guilty.

Federal prosecutors last month charged nine inmates with participating in violent incidents from April to August, including two fatal stabbings and a severe spinal injury from a homemade weapon.

Detainee Complaints Highlight Widespread Problems at Brooklyn Jail

Bankman-Fried prison is based on the Brooklyn waterfront, with a detaining capacity of approximately 1,200 people, mostly awaiting trial in Manhattan or Brooklyn federal courts. This is compared to 1,600 counted in January because the facility works through widespread staffing shortages, reports of contraband smuggling, and suspected employee involvement in illicit schemes.

Complaints from detainees detail highly prolonged lockdowns, gross deficiency in access to basic facilities and services, and a complete lack of visitation and exercise. These exacerbate stress on the inmates as well as staff.