Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to Over Two Years for Obstruction of Justice and False Statements

A former lieutenant correctional officer at Maryland’s Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI) has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to obstruct justice and for making false statements to federal investigators. Jermaine Sturgis, 41, of Laurel, Delaware, was convicted by a federal jury in December 2025 after a five-day trial. The charges stemmed from an incident on July 12, 2021, where Sturgis and other officers were found to have covered up evidence of an unlawful assault on an inmate.

The conviction and sentencing of Sturgis highlight a broader effort by the Department of Justice to hold accountable public officials who betray the public trust. According to trial testimony, Sturgis, while serving as a lieutenant at ECI in Westover, Maryland, was involved in a plot to delete a video recording that captured a junior officer using excessive force against an inmate. This recording also contained other evidence related to the use of force. Sturgis was also found to have provided false statements to both state and federal investigators during the subsequent investigation into the incident. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox imposed the sentence, which includes one year of supervised release in addition to the prison term.

This case underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of inmates and ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice system. The obstruction of justice and the cover-up of a violent assault not only violate the law but also erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions. The trial revealed a conspiracy among multiple officers to conceal the truth, prioritizing self-preservation over their duty to uphold the law and protect those in their custody.

In related proceedings, four other former ECI correctional officers have already pleaded guilty for their involvement in the cover-up. Samuel Warren, 40, of Westover, Maryland, received a 15-month prison sentence for assaulting the inmate and obstruction of justice. Neil Daubach, 47, of Salisbury, Maryland, was sentenced to 12 months and one day for witness tampering and obstruction of justice. David Quillen, 40, of Ocean View, Delaware, received two years of probation with six months of home detention for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Lastly, Daric Evans, 34, of Crisfield, Maryland, was sentenced to two years of probation with three months of home detention for conspiracy. These sentences reflect the seriousness of their actions in obstructing the investigation and the broader impact on the correctional system.

The investigation and prosecution were a collaborative effort, with commendations extended to the FBI Baltimore Field Office and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul all announced the sentence. This case serves as a reminder that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland.

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