The Justice Department announced today that a former corrections officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in Rusk, Texas, pleaded guilty for his participation in a conspiracy to assault an inmate in his custody, identified by initials M.S., on Feb. 25, 2025. Samuel Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241.
“This former corrections officer engaged in a conspiracy to beat and injure a man in his care and custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today’s conviction reinforces the Justice Department’s commitment to protect victims from state officials who abuse their power.”
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that corruption by those entrusted with public safety will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “Correctional officers hold positions of tremendous responsibility and authority, and when that trust is abused, it undermines the integrity of our justice system and jeopardizes the safety of inmates and staff. Nobody is above the law, and this office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it occurs.”
According to his plea agreement, Thomas acknowledged that he was on duty as a TDCJ correctional officer when he opened the door of inmate M.S.’s cell and allowed other conspiracy members to strike and injure M.S. to retaliate against M.S. for spitting on Thomas two days earlier. M.S. suffered bodily injury as a result of the actions of Thomas and the other conspiracy members.
Thomas pleaded guilty on May 19 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to his plea agreement, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Dallas Field Office, Tyler Resident Agency, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Jackson and Emil Mikkelsen for the Eastern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case
