Florence Prison Stabbing: Guillory & Bell Sentenced

FLORENCE, CO – Blood stained the concrete at the U.S. Penitentiary-High in Florence last December, and now, two inmates are paying the price. Jonathan Guillory, 45, and Anthony Bell, 44, both federal prisoners, have been sentenced for their roles in the death of a fellow inmate, a brutal attack that highlights the continued violence festering within the federal system.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado detailed a scene of calculated brutality. On December 6, 2021, a violent altercation erupted inside a cell. Guillory launched a vicious attack on the victim, repeatedly stabbing him with a makeshift weapon – a crude blade sharpened within the prison walls. The most devastating blow? A fatal wound to the base of the throat, severing life itself.

But Guillory didn’t act alone. While the attack unfolded, Anthony Bell deliberately blocked the cell door. He wasn’t intervening to stop the violence; he was actively preventing the victim from escaping, from crying out for help, and from receiving any chance at survival. He sealed the man’s fate, turning the cell into a tomb.

The consequences are now being handed down. Guillory received 88 months – over seven years – for voluntary manslaughter. Bell was sentenced to 27 months for involuntary manslaughter. Though serving time themselves, these sentences add significant weight to their existing penalties, a grim reminder that crime within prison walls doesn’t go unpunished.

“This case underscores our unwavering commitment to safety within the federal prison system,” stated United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Acts of violence, even behind bars, will be met with serious consequences. These defendants now face significant additional time to reflect on the gravity of their actions and the reach of the law.” The FBI, which led the investigation, echoed the sentiment. “The FBI does not give felons a free pass to commit crimes because they are already serving federal time,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Violence behind bars…brings consequences.”

United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez handed down the sentences on June 12 and June 18, 2025, respectively. The case, numbered 1:23-cr-00391-RMR, was prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The grim reality remains: even within the confines of a maximum-security prison, the potential for deadly violence persists, and the Grimy Times will continue to expose it.