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Authorities are searching for four inmates who escaped from a federal prison in Virginia this weekend, officials said.
Corey Branch, Tavares Lajuane Graham, Lamonte Rashawn Willis and Kareem Allen Shaw disappeared from the satellite camp of the Petersburg Federal Correctional Complex in Hopewell, Virginia, around 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning, FOX 5 of Washington DC reported. Hopewell is located about 20 miles from Richmond, Virginia, which is the state capital.
An investigation is underway
The U.S. Prison Office reported the disappearance of the inmates, who said the inmates had moved away from the minimum security facilities. No other details were provided about his escape.
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This photo provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons shows from the left, Corey Branch and Tavares Lajuane Graham. Federal officials say Branch and Graham were found missing from the Petersburg Federal Correctional Complex satellite field in Hopewell, Virginia on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Federal Office of Prisons via PA) Prisons via AP)
The U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI and local law enforcement agencies were immediately notified of the missing inmates and an internal investigation has been launched into how they escaped, FOX reported 5.
The crimes
According to the report, one of the inmates was serving a drug-related conviction, one was serving a firearms conviction, while the other two were serving sentences for both drug-related and firearm-related crimes.
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Shaw, 46, was sentenced to 16 years for conspiracy to sell heroin.
Willis, 30, was sentenced to 18 years for possessing and concealing a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This photo provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons shows from the left, Lamonte Rashawn Willis and Kareem Allen Shaw. Federal officials say Willis and Shaw were found missing from the Petersburg Federal Correctional Complex satellite field in Hopewell, Virginia on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Federal Office of Prisons via AP) Prisons via AP)
Branch, 41, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for distributing fentanyl. He was also convicted of being a criminal in possession of a firearm.
Graham, 44, was sentenced to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and weapons charges.
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The U.S. Marshals Service encourages anyone with information about their whereabouts to call them at (804) 545-8501.