Former Correctional Officer Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison For Abusive Sexual Contact With Inmate

OAKLAND – Enrique Chavez was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for having abusive sexual contact with a female prison inmate while he was employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institute Dublin (FCI Dublin) in Alameda County. The sentence was handed down by Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, United States District Judge.

Chavez, 50, formerly of Manteca, California, pleaded guilty to the charge on October 27, 2022. Chavez was employed in October 2020 as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin. FCI Dublin is a correctional institution operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons that houses female prisoners. According to his plea agreement, Chavez admitted that during October 2020 he met a female prisoner— identified only as Victim 1 in the plea agreement—in the food service pantry at FCI Dublin. Chavez acknowledged that Victim 1 was in detention at FCI Dublin and that she was under Chavez’s supervision and disciplinary authority at the time. After they met in the pantry, Chavez locked the door and the lights were turned off. Chavez admitted that he put his hand inside Victim 1’s underwear and touched her genitals; Chavez also admitted he touched the victim’s breasts. 

A federal grand jury indicted Chavez on March 10, 2022, charging him with two counts of abusive sexual contact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(4). Chavez pleaded guilty to one of the counts. Judge Gonzalez Rogers dismissed the remaining count during the sentencing hearing. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gonzalez Rogers also ordered the defendant to serve ten years of supervised release to begin after the prison term. Judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered the defendant to surrender on or before April 7, 2023, to begin serving his prison term.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds, DOJ Office of the Inspector General Los Angeles Field Office Special Agent in Charge Zachary Shroyer, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp made the announcement. 
 
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Paulson and Molly K. Priedeman are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Kay Konopaske and Leeya Kekona. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.