Two former death row inmates, one a corrupt police officer from New Orleans and the other a mastermind behind a multi-state murder spree, have recently been moved to a high-security prison in Colorado, known as “supermax,” according to the Justice Department. This transfer comes as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi aims to tighten regulations on the amnesty measures pursued by the previous administration, especially those related to violent crimes.
The inmates were relocated on Thursday to the ADX facility in Florence, Colorado. They are part of a larger group of 37 death row inmates whose sentences were commuted shortly before President Biden left office last December. This decision has drawn criticism, with some arguing that the pardons were issued without adequate oversight, described by some as a political “celebration of the Virgin Mary.”
The Justice Department stated that, thus far, eight death row inmates have been moved to the ADX, making a total of 10 since mid-September. All 37 inmates whose sentences were commuted are expected to be transferred by early next year, with additional moves anticipated in the near future.
Bondi’s efforts reflect a broader intention, associated with the Trump administration, to counter some of the Biden administration’s criminal justice reforms and focus on addressing violent crime more aggressively. While the commutations can’t be entirely undone, there are plans to assess the management of these inmates based on their dangerousness and criminal backgrounds, as noted in a previous memo from the Justice Department.
Bondi remarked to the media that “two more monsters” responsible for violent crimes will now spend their lives in some of America’s toughest federal prisons. She emphasized the need for accountability for families who felt blindsided by the Biden administration’s handling of the commutations.
Among those transferred, details of their crimes are particularly severe. One individual tracked down his ex-girlfriend to North Carolina, where he cut her phone line before setting her apartment ablaze. Eventually, he tracked her to her parents’ home in Virginia, where he shot her in broad daylight.
The other inmate was a New Orleans police officer involved in orchestrating the murder of a woman, who had just reported misconduct at the station. This officer, known for his intimidating presence, was implicated in criminal activities between local drug dealers and police, revealing deeper issues within the department.
ADX Florence houses some of the most notorious criminals in the U.S. justice system, including individuals convicted of the World Trade Center bombing and other high-profile cases.
After becoming attorney general, Bondi produced a memo aiming to address concerns raised by victims’ families regarding the commutations. Criticism towards these actions has surfaced, suggesting that Biden’s approach received more backlash than past administrations’ clemency efforts. Bondi hosted victims’ families earlier in the year to hear their grievances about sentence reductions and their experiences regarding the communication—or lack thereof—from the Biden administration.
In February, Bondi directed the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate the appropriate housing for these inmates, stressing the need to consider public safety in future arrangements.
