Two more Butner prisoners die from coronavirus complications

Two more prisoners at the Federal Correctional Complex at Butner have died from COVID-19 complications, according to federal officials.

John Marrone, 85, and Mark E. Hebert, 61, died Saturday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said in news releases.

Both men were in the low-security prison, which has the largest coronavirus outbreak in the federal prison system, with 623 total active cases, eight among staff members. Eleven inmates at the low-security prison and one staff member have died from COVID-19 infections, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Throughout the Butner prison complex, 657 inmates and staff have active cases. Butner is about 30 miles north of Raleigh.

Marrone was sentenced to 37 months in the Middle District of Florida for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, racketeering, RICO conspiracy, and on other charges. He had been in custody at Butner since Jan. 30, 2018 and tested positive for the coronavirus May 30.

Hebert was sentenced in the Northern District of Illinois to a 151-month sentence for obscene material and possession of child pornography. He had been in custody at Butner since June 5, 2014 and tested positive for the coronavirus on June 8.

Both men had long-term pre-existing medical conditions that the CDC says are risk factors for more severe COVID-19 disease, the bureau of prisons said.

Last week, a federal judge ruled against a group of Butner inmates who were seeking immediate releases for vulnerable prisoners, The News & Observer reported.

This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Two more Butner prisoners die from coronavirus complications."