Two more officers sentenced to time in federal prison in George Floyd case

Former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Keung and Tou Thao, who were both on the scene the day George Floyd was murdered by another officer, Derek Chauvin, were both sentenced to time in federal prison on Wednesday for their roles in the incident.

Keung, the officer who held Floyd’s torso down on the ground as Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison. Thou, who worked to keep onlookers away and refused to intervene at the scene, was sentenced to 3.5 years.

Both were convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights and failing to intervene when they saw Chauvin killing Floyd. A third officer on the scene, Thomas Lane, was sentenced last week to 2.5 years for violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Keung and Thou will be placed on supervised probation after their sentences are served out, and will each have to pay a $200 fee. 

“All four officers involved in the tragic death of George Floyd have now been convicted in federal court, sentenced to prison and held accountable for their crimes,” said DOJ Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “George Floyd’s death could have been prevented if these defendants had carried out their affirmative duty to intervene to stop another officer’s use of deadly force.”

Clarke continued, “The federal prosecution of all officers tied to the death of George Floyd should send a clear and powerful message that the Department of Justice will never tolerate the unlawful abuse of power or victimization of Americans by anyone in law enforcement.”