Reuben Blajos, Manuel Vasquez-Perez Sentenced in Brutal Inmate Beating

Reuben Blajos, 42, and Manuel Vasquez-Perez, 40, were each sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for a savage assault on a fellow inmate inside USP Canaan, a maximum-security federal penitentiary in Waymart, Pennsylvania. The attack, carried out with homemade weapons, left the victim with serious brain injuries and multiple lacerations, prosecutors said.

Both men pleaded guilty to the charges before United States District Judge Malachy Mannion, admitting they beat the inmate with modified flails made from padlocks stuffed into socks. Surveillance footage and inmate testimony revealed they continued the assault as the victim lay defenseless on the ground, kicking him repeatedly in a brutal display of violence that shocked correctional staff.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was hospitalized for days with non-life-threatening brain trauma, along with a pattern of cuts and abrasions across his body. Medical reports confirmed the injuries were consistent with a sustained, coordinated attack using improvised but dangerous weapons.

At the time of the assault, Blajos was serving a sentence handed down in 2010 for racketeering and narcotics trafficking conspiracies. Judge Mannion ordered his new 70-month sentence to run consecutively to his existing term, meaning he will serve longer behind bars. Vasquez-Perez, a Mexican citizen, was serving time for illegally reentering the United States after prior deportation—a conviction from 2012. That original sentence expired during the prosecution of the assault case.

The FBI and correctional officers at USP Canaan led the investigation, uncovering evidence through cell extractions, inmate interviews, and video logs. The coordinated effort highlighted the persistent threat of gang-related and retaliatory violence inside federal lockups, even under constant surveillance.

Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case, emphasizing that violence behind bars will not be tolerated. “Prison doesn’t grant a free pass to commit further crimes,” Caraballo said. “When inmates weaponize everyday objects to maim others, they will face serious federal time—on top of what they’re already serving.” # # #