Federal Inmate Sentenced to Additional 18+ Years for Assaulting Federal Officers

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Demetri Goldsmith, 25, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 220 months (18 years, 4 months) in prison for assaulting federal officers at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, Louisiana (“Pollock”).  The U.S. Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) manages U.S. Penitentiaries around the country, including Pollock. The sentence imposed by Judge Drell was an upward departure from the United States Sentencing Guidelines based on the severity of Goldsmith’s lengthy criminal history.

Goldsmith was convicted by a federal jury in Alexandria, Louisiana, on November 8, 2023, following a trial. Goldsmith was incarcerated at Pollock for brandishing a firearm and shooting a woman in the leg in 2016. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that on April 19, 2019, one of the female corrections officers at Pollock observed Goldsmith standing at his cell door staring at her while performing lewd acts. This was a violation of BOP inmate behavior policy and the female guard called for assistance with Goldsmith. Three other corrections officers responded to Goldsmith’s cell and ordered him to put his hands through the slot in the door in order to place handcuffs on him. Goldsmith refused and the officers opened the cell door to place him in their custody.  When they opened the door, however, Goldsmith lunged at them with a prison shank. He stabbed two of the federal officers causing injury. Officers were able to get Goldsmith in handcuffs and he celebrated the attack of the officers by yelling numerous times that he had stabbed them. Goldsmith has a long history of violence and bad behavior while in BOP custody.

“Being a correctional officer is a thankless job and is onerous on every level,” stated U.S. Attorney Brown.  “Some of the most dangerous individuals in this nation, prosecuted federally, are housed at USP Pollock.  Since Pollock is in our district, this office bears the responsibility of partnering with the Bureau of Prisons to ensure the safety of every employee.  This individual violently attacked two officers and failed to take responsibility for his actions.  As a result, our trial team convicted him, and we are extremely pleased with the Court’s decision to upward depart since this defendant fails to abide by societal and institutional rules.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Leon H. Whitten and Tennille Gilreath.

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