FCI Dublin Guard Gets 20 Months for Inmate Assault

OAKLAND – Enrique Chavez, a former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institute Dublin (FCI Dublin), will spend the next 20 months behind bars after being sentenced for sexually abusing an inmate. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, closes a case that exposed a disturbing breach of trust within the federal prison system.

Chavez, 50, formerly of Manteca, California, admitted to abusive sexual contact with an inmate – identified in court documents as Victim 1 – while on duty at FCI Dublin in October 2020. According to the plea agreement, Chavez encountered Victim 1 in the food service pantry. He then locked the door, turned off the lights, and committed the assault, placing his hand inside the victim’s underwear and touching her genitals, as well as her breasts. The details, laid bare in court, paint a picture of a power imbalance exploited for personal gratification.

A federal grand jury indicted Chavez on March 10, 2022, on two counts of abusive sexual contact, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(4). He pleaded guilty to one count, with Judge Gonzalez Rogers dismissing the remaining charge at sentencing. The plea avoids a potentially lengthy and damaging trial for Chavez, but does little to soothe the trauma inflicted upon the victim.

This wasn’t a fleeting moment. Chavez was employed at FCI Dublin, a facility housing female prisoners, and held a position of authority over Victim 1. This supervisory role significantly exacerbated the severity of the crime, turning an act of sexual assault into a gross abuse of power. The Bureau of Prisons is already under scrutiny for systemic issues, and this case will only add fuel to the fire.

Beyond the prison sentence, Judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered Chavez to serve ten years of supervised release following his incarceration. He has been ordered to surrender on or before April 7, 2023, to begin serving his term. While this provides some measure of accountability, questions remain about how Chavez was able to operate with impunity for so long, and what measures FCI Dublin is taking to prevent similar incidents.

The investigation was a joint effort by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General Los Angeles Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Zachary Shroyer, and the FBI’s Robert K. Tripp. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Paulson and Molly K. Priedeman, with support from Kay Konopaske and Leeya Kekona. U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds announced the sentencing, vowing to hold accountable those who abuse their positions of trust within the federal correctional system.