Xiaoqin Yan, a 32-year-old citizen of China, pleaded guilty on Jan. 20 before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to escaping from the custody of the Attorney General.
The case highlights concerns about security and enforcement at federal correctional facilities. Yan's escape underscores the importance of monitoring and coordination among law enforcement agencies.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Yan escaped from the Federal Satellite Low facility at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury on December 10, 2024. At that time, she was serving a federal prison sentence imposed in the Middle District of Alabama for arson and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
Yan was apprehended on December 10, 2024, and has remained detained since her arrest. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for July 21, when Yan faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
United States Attorney David X. Sullivan said that "XIAOQIN YAN...pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to escape from the custody of the Attorney General." The matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Danbury Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
The case demonstrates ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to respond quickly to incidents involving escapes from federal custody.
