Officers Indicted on Federal Crimes for Death of George Floyd

Only two and a half weeks after Derek Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, Chauvin and three other former police officers were indicted by a federal grand jury for civil rights violations in connection with Floyd’s death. George Floyd died when officers responded to a report that he had allegedly used a forged bill to pay at a convenience store, and Chauvin kneeled on his neck for over nine minutes during the course of his arrest.

In the federal indictment, Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are all charged with failing to render Floyd medical aid when needed during the arrest, and Chauvin is charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights by using excessive force. Keung and Tao are also charged with failing to intervene as Chauvin used that force.

Chauvin was also charged in a separate indictment for violating the civil rights of a 17-year-old in a 2017 incident where he allegedly hit the boy in the head with a flashlight then pinned him to the ground with his knee—similar to Chauvin’s actions filmed during the Floyd killing.

Chauvin is already facing up to 40 years in prison for the state murder conviction, and the other officers, at the time this blog was first published in May 2021, are pending trial in state court for aiding and abetting in Floyd’s death.

 

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Author Bio

David P. Shapiro

David P. Shapiro, the managing partner and founder of a leading San Diego criminal defense firm, is driven by an unwavering commitment to providing the best possible representation to his clients facing criminal charges. With a deep understanding of the fear, uncertainty, and concern for one’s future that his clients experience, David approaches each case with empathy and dedication, advocating tirelessly for their rights and freedoms.

Focused on complex and high-stakes cases, David handles a wide range of serious charges, including felonies, violent crimes, sex crimes, drug offenses, and white-collar crimes. Since establishing his practice in 2010, David has earned a reputation as one of San Diego’s most respected criminal defense attorneys.

His firm has been recognized by LawFirm500 as one of the nation’s fastest-growing law firms and was a 2022 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics Winner. The San Diego Business Journal named David’s firm the 17th Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego from 2019-2021 and recognized David as one of San Diego’s 500 Most Influential People in 2022. With a strong dedication to his clients and community, David continues to be a driving force in the San Diego legal landscape.

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