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Minn. officer involved in George Floyd completes federal prison sentence

Thomas Lane was convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights and was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison; he has been released to supervision, with one year left in his state sentence

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Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP

By Joanna Putman
Corrections1

MINNEAPOLIS — Thomas Lane, one of the former Minneapolis police officers convicted in connection with the murder of George Floyd, has completed his federal prison sentence but remains in federal custody, CBS News reported.

Lane, 41, was convicted in 2022 of violating George Floyd’s civil rights during the May 25, 2020, incident involving former officer Derek Chauvin, according to the report. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison. Lane was also convicted on state charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter and received a three-year sentence, with two of those years served concurrently with his federal sentence.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Lane’s federal sentence concluded on February 26, 2024. However, he remains in custody as he completes his Minnesota sentence. A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Corrections confirmed that Lane is being housed under a contract with the federal bureau and is scheduled for release into supervision on August 20, 2024, according to the report. His full sentence is set to expire on August 20, 2025.

Lane served his federal sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Littleton, Colorado, despite U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson’s recommendation for placement at Duluth’s Federal Prison Camp. The Bureau of Prisons chose Englewood, citing concerns for Lane’s safety, according to the report.