Man Convicted of Manslaughter for the Killing of a Fellow Inmate at USP Canaan

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Allen Archie Hurley, age 46, currently incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary Canaan, was convicted Thursday evening on two counts related to the death of a fellow inmate at United States Penitentiary Canaan. After a four-day trial in Scranton before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, a jury took approximately one hour to find Hurley guilty of manslaughter and the illegal possession of a weapon by an inmate.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the evidence at trial established that on April 25, 2010, Hurley killed inmate Joseph O’Kane by stabbing him approximately 92 times in his own cell at USP Canaan. Hurley admitted at trial that he utilized a sharpened weapon commonly known as a “shiv” or “shank” to kill Joseph O’Kane but contended that he did so while acting in self defense.

In rendering its guilty verdict, the jury rejected Hurley’s self-defense claim. As a result of the conviction, Hurley faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for September 2012.

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