Brandon Montanari, a 34-year-old former State Corrections Officer from East Concord, New York, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, as detailed in a statement made public by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York. The actions leading to his sentencing involved the assault of an inmate while on duty at Mid-State Correctional Facility, violating his position of authority and the inmate's civil rights.
Montanari entered a guilty plea in connection with an April 2023 incident, during which he, along with fellow officers Rohail Kahn and Michael Williams, punched and kicked an inmate. In addition to the assault, the three officers agreed to provide false statements to internal investigators in an effort to obstruct justice. According to a press release, Montanari’s sentencing includes a period of two years of supervised release following his prison term.
The case, which has drawn attention due to the severity of the offense, also includes pending sentencings for Montanari’s co-defendants. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, followed by Khan on September 29. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes is overseeing all three proceedings, providing continuity in the handling of the related cases.
The FBI, in coordination with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations, led the investigation that uncovered the violations. "It is unacceptable for a corrections officer to assault an inmate," said Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, emphasizing the seriousness of the misconduct. FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli added, "Today’s sentence proves the FBI will not look the other way when an officer violates the laws they are sworn to uphold." The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian, as per statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
