The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Scranton today indicted Joseph Wing, age 27, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary Canaan in Waymart, Pennsylvania, for assaulting another inmate with intent to commit murder.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the grand jury alleges that Wing committed the assault on May 16, 2014, in the prison.

Wing is also charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

The charges against Wing resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Prisons staff.

If convicted, Wing faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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

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

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.