Billy Evans, 26, Pleads Guilty to Inmate Assault at FCI-Greenville

Billy Evans, 26, launched a brutal attack on a fellow inmate at FCI-Greenville on July 6, 2016, wielding a homemade weapon crafted from a belt and a combination lock. The assault left the victim with a 3 cm laceration to the head requiring staples, along with deep abrasions and bruising on his right shoulder. The federal prison, located in Greenville, Illinois, became the scene of a violent act that now carries serious consequences for Evans.

On December 12, 2016, Evans pleaded guilty to the charge of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm, according to Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment, handed down in federal court, exposes Evans to a maximum sentence of ten years behind bars, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. In addition, he could face up to three years of supervised release following any prison term.

The weapon used in the attack was no accident of opportunity—it was deliberately constructed. Evans admitted to law enforcement that he tied the heavy lock to the belt to create a crude but effective bludgeon. After striking the victim multiple times, he immediately turned himself in to prison staff, signaling an awareness of the gravity of his actions. His cooperation didn’t erase the crime, but it became a key detail in the investigation.

When questioned by FBI agents, Evans confessed to both the assault and the creation of the weapon. No motive was disclosed in court filings, but within the tense, overcrowded environment of federal prison, even minor disputes can erupt into violence. The victim, whose identity remains protected, was treated on-site before being transferred for further medical observation.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigation Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, underscoring the seriousness with which federal authorities treat crimes committed within correctional facilities. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott is handling the prosecution and will argue for a stiff sentence at the upcoming hearing.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 31, 2017, in East St. Louis, Illinois. The case serves as a grim reminder that violence behind bars doesn’t go unpunished—federal justice follows inmates into the yard, the cell block, and every shadowed corner of the prison system.