Ocala, FL – Ali Odeh Abdeljaber, a 31-year-old inmate from Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to charges of forcibly assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer. The incident occurred at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, United States Penitentiary I, in Sumter County. Abdeljaber now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, although a sentencing date has not yet been determined.
The altercation happened on March 18, 2024, when a correctional officer from the Federal Bureau of Prisons attempted to escort Abdeljaber to his designated cell. Abdeljaber became aggressive, lunging forward and using his head to strike the officer in the face, resulting in injuries that included two fractured teeth.
The case is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is leading the prosecution.
