A federal jury in Manhattan has convicted Mario Powell of assaulting a corrections officer with a deadly weapon and possessing contraband while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City. The verdict followed a five-day trial presided over by U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan.
According to prosecutors, on May 30, 2020, Powell attacked a corrections officer using a weapon fashioned from razor blades, causing injuries to the officer’s neck. The indictment and trial evidence indicated that Powell obtained and possessed the makeshift weapon inside the prison.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, “Mario Powell brutally assaulted a federal corrections officer with a makeshift weapon made of razor blades. Today, a jury of his peers held Powell accountable for this vicious attack. Our Office is proud to stand behind and pursue justice for our law enforcement partners who bravely put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of New York.”
Powell, 34, from the Bronx, was found guilty of one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon—which carries up to 20 years in prison—and one count of possession of prison contraband, which has a maximum sentence of five years. Sentencing is set for November 14, 2025; actual sentencing will be determined by Judge Cronan.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into the case. The prosecution was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright, Henry L. Ross, and Leslie B. Arffa from the General Crimes Unit, assisted by Paralegal Specialists Myrnette Millington and Phineas Santello.
