The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Senior United States District Court Judge Richard P. Conaboy has sentenced Johnnie Williams, age 36, formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, to 30 months’ imprisonment for being involved in a conspiracy to assault another inmate with a dangerous weapon in February 2014. Williams pleaded guilty to the charge in September.

United States Attorney Peter Smith stated that the victim was another inmate who was injured when Williams stabbed him with a weapon commonly referred to as a shank. Charges are pending against the other alleged conspirator who used a mace-type weapon constructed from a lock attached to a sock to attempt to assault the victim inmate before being subdued by correctional officers.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus prosecuted the case.