Minneapolis, Minnesota – Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of the murder of George Floyd, has been transferred to a federal prison in Texas, nearly nine months after he was brutally attacked in another facility. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed the transfer on Tuesday.
Chauvin, 47, is now held at the federal penitentiary in Big Springs, Texas, a low-security prison. Previously, he was incarcerated at FCI Tucson in Arizona, where he was serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights, alongside a 22 1/2-year state sentence for second-degree murder.
The transfer comes after Chauvin was attacked on November 24, 2023, by John Turszkak, a former gang leader and FBI informant currently serving a 30-year sentence. Turszkak, associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, stabbed Chauvin 22 times, allegedly targeting him due to his involvement in Floyd’s death. The attack nearly claimed Chauvin’s life, but corrections officers intervened just in time. Turszkak has been charged with attempted murder and several other serious offenses related to the attack.
Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, had previously advocated for his client’s protection, warning that Chauvin could become a target among the general prison population. FCI Tucson, where the stabbing occurred, is known for its security challenges and understaffing issues.
Chauvin’s transfer to the Texas facility occurred after a temporary relocation to the Oklahoma Federal Transmission Center earlier this month. The move is seen as a measure to ensure his safety following the near-fatal attack.
In related news, Thomas Lane, another former Minneapolis officer involved in the incident that led to George Floyd’s death, has been released from federal prison in Colorado. Lane, who held Floyd’s legs down during the fatal encounter, served a three-year sentence for aiding and abetting second-degree murder. He is the first of the four officers convicted in connection with Floyd’s death to be released.
The tragic killing of George Floyd in May 2020, which was captured on video and showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, sparked global protests and a renewed conversation on racial injustice. The other two officers involved, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, are still serving their sentences and are expected to be released in 2025.