Former Buncombe County Sheriff Dies of Covid in Federal Prison

North Carolina -- U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Office of Public Affairs

June 3, 2020 
Inmate Death at FCI Butner (Low)
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, inmate Bobby Lee Medford was
evaluated by institutional medical staff at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Butner (Low),
in Butner, North Carolina for issues relating to hypoxia. He was transported to a local hospital for
treatment and further evaluation. While at the outside hospital Mr. Medford tested positive for
COVID-19. On Thursday, May 21, 2020, his condition declined and he was placed on a
ventilator. On Wednesday, June 3, 2020, Mr. Medford, who had long-term, pre-existing medical
conditions which the CDC lists as risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 disease,
was pronounced dead by hospital staff.
Mr. Medford was a 74-year-old male who was sentenced in the Western District of North
Carolina to a 180-month sentence for Racketeering, Violence, Conspiracy to Commit
Extortion, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Mail Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money
Laundering, Obstruction of State and Local Law Enforcement, and Conspiracy to Conduct an
Illegal Gambling Business. He had been in custody at the Federal Correctional Complex
(FCC) Butner since December 9, 2008.
FCI Butner (Low) is a Low security facility that currently houses 1,184 male offenders.
The Bureau of Prisons will continue to provide daily updates and information on actions related
to COVID-19 at www.bop.gov/coronavirus/index.jsp.
Additional information about the Bureau of Prisons can be found at www.bop.gov.