LONDON, Ky. — A former guard at the Martin County federal prison has been sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to abuse inmates.

Terry Melvin, 60, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy against rights and deprivation of civil rights.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. The charges stemmed from Melvin’s time as a lieutenant at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy.

In his plea agreement, he described an “unofficial” policy of abuse at the prison.

Under Bureau of Prisons rules, inmates who request protective custody due to threats are placed in a special housing unit, or SHU, while their claims are investigated. But Melvin’s plea agreement revealed that he conspired with at least 17 other prison employees, including several senior staff, to reduce the population of the SHU by assaulting inmates.

The plea agreement says inmates were given a chance to withdraw their complaints, and those who did would be returned to their regular housing unit. Those who didn’t would be assaulted by prison employees, then false reports would be filed claiming the abuse was a response to the prisoner attacking a guard.

The plea agreement says prison staff were given promotions and monetary rewards worth thousands to go along with the scheme.

Melvin’s 48-month sentence was less than the 63 months prosecutors had been seeking, but more than the 12 months and one day Melvin had requested.