FORMER FULTON COUNTY LIEUTENANT SENTENCED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST DETAINEE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Former County Jailer Goes to Prison
May 17, 2010
ATLANTA, GA - Former Fulton County Sheriff’s Lieutenant ROBERT W. HILL, Jr., 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., to federal prison on charges of violating the civil rights of an inmate by using excessive force, solicitation to commit a crime of violence (excessive force), obstruction of justice, and lying to an FBI agent.
United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the verdict, “This Fulton County Jail Watch Commander not only was involved first hand in the beating of an inmate, he used his supervisory power to attempt to pressure others to lie to cover up the incident.
Fortunately, some of those under him told the truth, and the jury returned with a verdict that reflected what really happened. As in other cases we have prosecuted involving the Fulton County Jail, the message is the same: illegal treatment of inmates and lying about it will not be tolerated. Now this former law enforcement officer himself goes to prison.”
Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Division FBI, said, “Today’s sentencing of former Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy Hill should serve as a reminder to other law enforcement officers of their sworn oaths that they accepted upon entering a career in the criminal justice system. The difficulties of working in a correctional environment are fully appreciated, but the disregard for the basic civil rights of others and the obstruction of the resulting federal investigation will not be condoned.”
Fulton County Sheriff Theodore Jackson said, “The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office continues to cooperate with federal authorities to ensure that the inmates in custody are supervised according to federal statutes. The use of excessive force and cover-ups are not tolerated at the Sheriff’s Office. This case demonstrates that these matters are taken seriously and that when Fulton County Sheriff’s employees fail to respect the civil rights of inmates, they may also face sentencing in federal court. This does not illustrate or characterize the majority of law-abiding employees of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.”
HILL was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. HILL was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury on March 5, 2010 after a four-day trial.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented at trial: HILL, a former sheriff’s Lieutenant assigned to the Fulton County Jail, was in charge of the facility as the Watch Commander on August 9, 2008. During a morning roll call, HILL made remarks to his staff that included a directive regarding the use of force against inmates. According to witnesses and HILL’s own recollection of the event, he told his subordinate officers that if an inmate touches an officer, that inmate “should go to Grady” Hospital.
Later that very day, Inmate Christopher Trammell, a pre-trial detainee with mental health issues, was involved in a physical altercation with a number of detention officers including HILL. HILL was injured during the altercation. Eyewitnesses testified and a video surveillance recording showed that after the altercation, HILL picked Trammell up from the floor and escorted him into a nearby nurse’s station, which did not have a window and was not equipped with a surveillance camera. A group of at least eleven detention officers followed HILL and Inmate Trammell into the room.
The video surveillance recording shows that after the group entered the room, the door was closed. Five officers testified that inside the room, HILL assaulted Trammell. Several of the witnesses testified that HILL struck Trammell multiple times about his face and head. Witnesses also said that after the assault, Trammell was bleeding from his face and blood was left on the floor of the nurse station.
Evidence presented at trial also included HILL’s report about the incident, which did not mention any use of force against Trammell inside the nurse’s station. In an interview with an FBI agent during the investigation of the matter, HILL insisted that he “in no way witnessed” Trammell being assaulted in the nurse’s station. HILL did, however, admit to an FBI agent, that he made the statement at roll call about sending inmates to Grady Hospital. According to the FBI agent, HILL quoted himself as saying that “if an inmate puts a hand on staff, then he is going to Grady.” HILL further explained to the agent that this is the custom of the jail – “meaning you will get your *** whooped.”
According to the testimony of three officers who witnessed the assault, HILL met with them numerous times following his interview with the FBI. These witnesses testified that HILL repeatedly told them that nothing illegal happened in the nurse’s station and that they should “stick to the story” if they were questioned about the incident by federal authorities.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Angela M. Jordan prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016 (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
CANADIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED WITH SUITCASE FULL OF COCAINE-SOAKED CLOTHES SENTENCED TO OVER 3 YEARS IN PRISON
May 17, 2010
ATLANTA, GA - ELIZABETH LOUISE WYONCH, 59, of Montreal, Canada, was sentenced to federal prison today by United States District Judge Orinda D. Evans on four counts of drug trafficking, including the intentional importation of cocaine into the United States, and possession of at least 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “Trying to smuggle cocaine or any other dangerous drug is more than a risky proposition. Customs and Border Patrol officers at our airports are waiting for you. And when you are caught, you will go into a federal prison cell.”
WYONCH was sentenced to 3 years, 1 month in prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release. On December 31, 2009, she pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States from outside the country, importing cocaine into the United States, conspiracy to possess at least 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of at least 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the following charges and other information presented in court: On July 27, 2009, the Border Intelligence Office in Buffalo, New York, received an anonymous tip that an woman named ELIZABETH WYONCH would be traveling into the United States with an unknown amount of cocaine concealed in a suitcase. Investigators subsequently learned that on July 29, 2009, WYONCH was scheduled to fly into Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport from Lima, Peru, with a final destination of Montreal, Canada. Customs and Border Patrol officers stopped WYONCH going through customs and inspected her luggage. During the secondary inspection, Customs officers noticed that the clothing inside one of the suitcases was unusually stiff to the touch.
A field drug test conducted on a section of the clothing gave a positive reading for the presence of cocaine. It was later determined that over three kilograms of cocaine had been soaked into various items of clothing contained in her luggage. She was immediately arrested.
The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Rodney Bullard prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016, (404) 581-6016.The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.
Comments (3)
There are still some good judges left,
at least, sounds as if that’s so.
Another case of a BAD judge and DA,
the Tonya Croft trial. It has stirred up
a ‘hornets nest’
Dear dw,
Yes sir - and howdy! I am enjoying watch this unfold.
tw
Georgia is loaded with paid-shill judges. Crooked judges and DA’s in Georgia are the norm, unfortunately. My next door neighbor in NY is a judge, and a reputable one too. It’s a shame that you folks don’[t have the same down there. It’s a God-damn circus in Cooksville. Such a shame. Democrats are to blame.
Another case of good officers doing what they know is right. They must have felt intimidated when they were told to stick to the story. Just stick to the facts and it will all come out. Just because there was’t a security camera in the nurses station didn’t mean the truth wouldn’t come out. One more bad apple getting kicked to the curb.
Dear Room4,
When I read this press release yesterday, I could not believe it. It is almost EXACTLY what happened in the Deputy Wilson-Jeff Green case, only there were less officers in the exam room, and Jeff’s beating was much more severe, AND Jeff never injured any of the officers, and certainly not Ghee Wilson.
PLUS,on top of that, Jeff was not even a detainee in the prison, but was a patient in a hospital, seeking help.
There are inconsistencies in the initial report filed with the RPD, too, which I cannot go not now.
I remember when the three Floyd County SO employees got fired the fall I had just stared my website. Duke, Mintner & King, they were ultimately fired and charged with criminal charges, NOT for speeding on their way to a football game, but for filing false reports about the incident when they got back.
And no one was even beaten up or injured in that incident. Honesty and Integrity have to be the foundations of every law enforcement entity and officer. And the oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Georgia, includes Civil Rights.
tw