Derek Chauvin Transferred to Federal Prison in Texas After Stabbing Incident

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, has been transferred to a federal prison in Texas nearly nine months after surviving a stabbing attack in a different facility. On Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Chauvin, 47, is now housed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Big Spring, a low-security prison.

Previous Incarceration in Arizona and Temporary Transfer

Chauvin was previously held at FCI Tucson, a medium-security facility in Arizona, where he was serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights alongside a 22½-year state sentence for second-degree murder. In early August, Chauvin was temporarily relocated to the Oklahoma Federal Transfer Center before moving to his current Texas location.

Stabbing Incident by Former Gang Leader

The transfer follows an incident on November 24, 2023, where Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by John Turscak, a former gang leader and one-time FBI informant. Turscak, who is currently serving a 30-year sentence for crimes associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, targeted Chauvin due to his notoriety for the killing of George Floyd. Turscak now faces additional charges, including attempted murder and assault with intent to commit murder. According to reports, Turscak told investigators he would have killed Chauvin had correctional officers not intervened so quickly.

Security Concerns at FCI Tucson

Chauvin’s lawyer at the time, Eric Nelson, had previously advocated for keeping him out of the general population and away from other inmates at FCI Tucson, citing concerns that Chauvin would be a target due to the high-profile nature of his case. The Arizona facility had been noted for security lapses and staffing shortages, which may have contributed to the attack.

Thomas Lane Released from Federal Prison

In a related development, another former Minneapolis officer, Thomas Lane, who was convicted for his role in Floyd’s death, was released from federal prison in Colorado.