Federal Inmates Charged With Assaulting Another Inmate With A Dangerous Weapon

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on June 14, 2016, a federal grand jury in Scranton indicted Tony Knott, age 32 and Antoine Whitfield, age 26, both federal inmates at the United States Penitentiary Canaan (“USP Canaan”), in Waymart, Pennsylvania, with assaulting another inmate with a dangerous weapon.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the indictment charges Knott and Whitfield with assaulting a fellow inmate at USP Canaan on May 9, 2016.  Knott also was charged with possessing a homemade weapon made from a sharpened piece of metal, commonly known as a “shank.”

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers from USP Canaan.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Gotlob.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment for Whitfield and 15 years of imprisonment for Knott, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.     

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