Two Ex-Minneapolis Police Officers Receive Federal Prison Sentences Wednesday

Originally published 11:08 a.m. July 27th, 2022

Updated 12:18 p.m. July 27th, 2022

(KNSI) — A federal judge has sentenced two former Minneapolis police officers for violating George Floyd’s civil rights.

J. Alexander Kueng and fellow officer Tou Thao were convicted in February of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care and for failing to intervene and stop Derek Chauvin from kneeling on Floyd’s neck. Kueng held Floyd’s back, and Lane held his feet while Thao kept bystanders at bay.

Kueng was sentenced to three years in prison. Thao was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Kueng and Thao have a voluntary surrender date of October 4th and serve their sentences in either Duluth or Yankton, South Dakota. Both sentences will be followed by two years of supervised release. Their state murder and manslaughter trial begins on October 24th.

Another officer Thomas Lane was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison earlier this month. Lane was reportedly heard twice on video asking to roll Floyd over so he could breathe, to which Chauvin said no. Lane also pled guilty to state charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter and will be sentenced on September 21st.

Chauvin has been sentenced to 20 1/2 years in federal prison as part of a plea deal.

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