Federal Inmate Found Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter in Cellmate's Death

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Federal inmate convicted of voluntary manslaughter in cellmate's death at USP Canaan. Sentencing pending.

HARRISBURG, PA – A federal inmate has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of his cellmate, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Rudy Mendoza, 41, was found guilty by a jury on July 31, 2026, following a trial that lasted five days. United States District Judge Keli M. Neary presided over the proceedings, and sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

The incident occurred on July 30, 2019, within the Special Housing Unit at the United States Penitentiary, Canaan, located in Waymart, Pennsylvania. Bureau of Prisons staff discovered Mendoza’s cellmate deceased in their shared cell. Upon investigation, correctional officers observed blood present throughout the cell and noted multiple injuries to the victim’s head and face. The official cause of death was determined to be cardiorespiratory collapse resulting from physical trauma.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation into the death. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Ford, Stephen Dukes, and William Behe prosecuted the case.

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The conviction carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. Following incarceration, the convicted individual will also face a term of supervised release and a potential fine. The judge will determine the final sentence after considering the relevant federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This conviction underscores the serious consequences of violent acts within federal correctional facilities.