TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WSIL) -- Otha Don Watkins III, a 43-year-old from Cairo, Illinois, has been sentenced to an additional five years in federal prison. Watkins pleaded guilty and was sentenced to involuntary manslaughter and possessing contraband in prison, according to the United States Department of Justice Southern District of Indiana on June 24.
Court documents revealed that in April 2023, Watkins was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. The attorney's office reported he was serving a 23-year sentence for aiding and abetting armed bank robbery, possession of a stolen firearm, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
On April 14, 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Watkins and fellow inmate Carlos Shelton engaged in a fight, both armed with improvised shanks. Watkins was then accused of stabbing Shelton, which led to his death later in the day.
“Given Otha Watkins� history of violent offenses, culminating in the brutal attack he carried out in the Terre Haute prison, it’s evident that he should never be allowed to live outside federal custody again,� said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI and our federal prosecutor for their tireless efforts to ensure this defendant faces justice. I hope that the conclusion of this case provides some sense of closure and peace to Mr. Shelton’s family.�
"Today's sentencing marks the conclusion of a senseless act of violence that took place within the walls of our correctional institution,� said a Bureau of Prisons Spokesperson. “Otha Watkins demonstrated an utter disregard for human life and the rule of law. The court's decision affirms that such actions carry severe consequences, and it sends a clear and resounding message: acts of violence in federal prison will be met with the full weight of the law."
“This brutal killing is a reminder that violence can occur anywhere, even within the confines of the most secure environments,� said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting all individuals, regardless of their incarceration status, and we will continue to work to ensure those who commit violent acts while incarcerated, are held fully accountable.�
The FBI and Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation, and U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II imposed the sentence. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress expressed gratitude to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath for prosecuting the case.
