A gang member has received a sentence for attacking a federal correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, an assault that resulted in serious injuries. Cody Ryan Todd, a 34-year-old from Carrollton, Georgia, is the individual sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to a term of six years and five months in prison, two years and 11 months of which is to be served concurrently with a prior racketeering conviction. According to U.S. Attorney's Office, Todd assaulted the officer by punching him in the face, forcing him to the ground, and continuing to strike him several times while the officer was down and January 28, 2021, was the day the assault took place; Todd was a pretrial detainee at the time.
"This defendant’s pattern of violent behavior continued while he was in custody, resulting in a vicious attack that left a correctional officer seriously injured," U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said, emphasizing the need for correctional officers to work without the threat or fear of violence and the firm stance against those who commit such acts, Todd's violent behavior wasn't a first-time event, as he was being held on racketeering charges related to crimes committed with the Ghost Face Gangsters, which included murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery, while previously he had been convicted of battery on four separate occasions, as per U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI played a key role in the investigation leading to Todd's conviction, with Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, stating violence toward law enforcement officers is something the agency does not tolerate, "We will always hold criminals accountable for their actions and will not hesitate to pursue those who repeatedly violate the law, even behind bars." The Federal Bureau of Prisons echoed a similar sentiment, reiterating their dedication to the safety of their staff, "The safety of our corrections employees and security of our facilities will always be the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ top priority in our mission to ensure public safety," said Randilee Giamusso, a spokesperson for the bureau, and this case serves as a clear message of the consequences violent offenders can expect if they target correctional staff, as reported by U.S. Attorney's Office.
The jury found Todd guilty on February 1, and in the wake of his sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Beaulieu and Alison Prout who were in charge of prosecution, for their efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office can be contacted for further details about this case which was jointly investigated by the FBI and Federal Bureau of Prisons which, according to them, reinforces the message that violence against correctional officers will not go unpunished in the justice system.
