U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross | U.S. Department of Justice
Raymond Tetzlaff, an inmate at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Forrest City, Arkansas, has been sentenced to an additional 10 years in federal prison. This sentence follows a guilty verdict for assault causing serious bodily injury, which resulted in the victim's death. The announcement was made by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
The conviction came after a three-day jury trial that concluded on June 12, 2024. Tetzlaff, aged 41 and originally from Great Falls, Montana, was found guilty of one count of assault causing serious bodily injury. He is already serving a 216-month sentence for drug-related offenses from a 2017 case out of Montana. His current sentence is set to expire in 2032, after which the new 120-month sentence will commence. Additionally, Judge James M. Moody Jr., who presided over the case, imposed five years of supervised release following imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross expressed hope that the sentence would provide comfort to the victim’s family and emphasized the importance of prisoner safety during incarceration: “Prisoners should be safe while serving their term of imprisonment.” He added that this significant sentence should act as a warning against harming fellow inmates.
Tetzlaff was indicted on August 1, 2023, on charges including manslaughter and assault causing serious bodily injury; however, he was only convicted on the latter charge as the jury did not reach a verdict on manslaughter.
The investigation revealed that on October 29, 2022, Tetzlaff punched another inmate in the face at Forrest City federal prison over concerns regarding a missing contraband cell phone. The blow caused the victim to fall and sustain a fractured skull. Three days later, the victim died from these injuries after experiencing further medical complications.
Judge Moody highlighted Tetzlaff’s lack of remorse and history of violence when delivering his sentence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted this investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorneys Bart Dickinson and Chris Givens prosecuted the case.
