update 23. June 2003

Michael Anita #51946-008
USP Atwater
PO Box 019001
Atwater, CA 95301
USA

Age/Birthday: Birthday 12-9-1972
Race/Tribe: Tohono O'Odham
Physical Description: 5' 11", 198 lbs, brown eyes, black hair
Release Date: Life (unprojected)
Interests: Writing, reading, drawing, anything that would catch my interest
besides writing reading and drawing.... I learn from others as well as in self.
Looking for: Anyone open minded, willing to read and write letters of exchange,
to share thoughts, interests, moreover sharing whatever comes to mind of
this, that, there, ifs, why and why nots....

---

Valerie Scott, NAPS
=====
NAPS (Native American Prisoner Support)
http://www.hri.ca/partners/naps/

Greetings
About two weeks ago, NAPS circulated a posting concerning USP Atwater, outlining some of the on going issues with the Native prisoners, as well as our safety concerns. We also sent a series of inquiries to prison and BOP officials, expressing our concerns and warning them that there could be further trouble among the Native prisoners - a warning they took lightly. Now, a Native prisoner has been stabbed to death, which is the second stabbing of a Native prisoner in SHU within weeks. This is supposed to be a secure lockdown unit, with video cameras. Of course, if the guards open the cell doors and turn a blind eye, as they did in the stabbing of Stephen Jackson, someone is bound to get hurt or killed. Likewise will happen, if they intentionally cell the wrong inmates together.
In Mr. Haro's latest response to our inquiries, he states: "Staff utilize a wealth of experience in making judgments on how best to manage inmates, which entails consideration of numerous factors." This may be true, but they don't understand the Native psyche (which they have proven repeatedly over the past two years). Therefore, we are not surprised to see that federal officials are using the media to assassinate the character of Mr. Anita, even though the FBI has not completed its investigation and refuses to comment.
This, of course, distracts everyone from the "real" issues. However, where there is smoke, there is fire!

Perhaps, now that one of the Native prisoners is dead, someone might see fit to send an inquiry or apply pressure to Atwater or BOPofficials. Because I can assure you, this is not the end of their problems.

---

Atwater inmate found stabbed to death in his cell
Thursday, July 31, 2003 By Mike De La Cruz (mdelacruz@mercedsun-star.com)

ATWATER - A 30-year-old inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Atwater was possibly stabbed to death early Wednesday in his cell. Michael Edward Anita, 30, was found dead at 5:22 a.m. in the Special Housing Unit (SHU), where he was being housed at the federal facility located at No. 1 Federal Way in Atwater.

Anita was pronounced dead at 6:08 a.m. by emergency medical service personnel. Sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Thurman, supervisor of the Merced County Coroner’s Office, said an autopsy of the victim is scheduled today in Fresno. Jesse W. Gonzalez, executive assistant at the penitentiary, said Anita was sentenced to life for carjacking in Arizona. He said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified and is currently conducting an investigation.Karen Ernst, a special agent for the Sacramento FBI, said that the FBI as well as the Federal Bureau of Prisons are involved in the investigation. The FBI was called into the investigation because the penitentiary is a federal institution. Ernst said the investigation is ongoing and that it is too early to release any information. Gonzalez said this is the first homicide since the penitentiary began accepting inmates on Jan. 16, 2002.

Prison inmate's death is a 'possible stabbing'
By MIKE CONWAY
BEE STAFF WRITER

ATWATER - Guards Wednesday morning found a prisoner dead in his cell at Atwater Federal Penitentiary, where he had been serving a life sentence for a carjacking. Michael Edward Anita, 30, of Casa Grande, Ariz., was the victim of "a possible stabbing," said Jesse Gonzales, the prison's public information officer. It would be the first homicide at the prison since it opened in January 2002. Anita was being held in the special housing unit, a separate set of cells. "It's for inmates who commit serious violations of the Bureau (of Prisons) rules," Gonzales said. He would not say what prompted officials to house Anita in the unit. "It's under investigation," heaid. The special cells can house two or more inmates. Gonzales would not say how many men were in Anita's cell, nor would he say what kind of weapon might have been used. Anita and a partner abducted and killed taxi driver Daniel Sheehan on June 8, 2000. Because the crime may have occurred on an American Indian reservation, Anita was charged with the federal crime of theft of a motor vehicle with intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Chapman said.
A Tohono O'odhan Indian, Anita lived on and off the reservation for much of his life, Chapman said. "We didn't now if the murder occurred on the reservation or off," Chapman said. The only part of Sheehan's body that was recovered was the top of his skull, found in a cotton field on the reservation. Investigators found the driver's blood in the cab and on the clothing of Anita and his accomplice. Chapman said prosecutors believed the pair wanted to use the cab to smuggle people into the United States. The Tohono O'odham Nation reservation stretches along the Mexican border west of Tucson.
Anita had been appealing his conviction, Chapman said. He had a violent history, having been convicted at age 18 of shooting a man in the head and killing him following a disagreement. "He's big, strong and tough, and had lots of arrests for violent conduct that were never prosecuted," Chapman said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Figueroa added: "This guy would give Mike Tyson all he could handle. "There is an indication he was a member of an Indian prison gang, the Warriors Society. He also was somewhat of a leader, so it's easy to see how he would be a problem.". FBI Special Agent Karen Ernst said the Fresno office is handling the investigation into Anita's death. The Atwater penitentiary is a maximum-security prison for serious criminals and violent offenders. The main prison houses 1,440 maximum-security prisoners, while 127 inmates are in a minimum-security facility nearby.
Bee staff writer Mike Conway can be reached at 381-0208 or mconway@modbee.com.

Arizonan in California prison found dead in cell
Associated Press
Jul. 31, 2003 12:20 PM Anita, who was appealing his conviction, was being held in a special housing unit, a separate set of cells for inmates who commit serious violations under the Bureau of Prisons rules, Gonzales said. Anita was charged with the federal crime of theft of a motor vehicle with intent to cause death or serious bodily harm because the crime may have occurred on an American Indian reservation, federal prosecutors said. Federal officials say Anita and a partner abducted and killed a taxi driver in June 2000 to use the cab to smuggle people into the United States. Anita was a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The American Indian reservation west ofTucson stretches along the Mexican border. Federal officials said Anita had a violent history and was an alleged member of a prison gang. At 18, Anita was convicted for fatally shooting a man following a disagreement. There is an indication he was a member of an Indian prison gang, the Warriors Society. He also was somewhat of a leader, so it's easy to see how he would be a problem," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Figueroa said.
Officials said the homicide is the first at the 1,400-inmate maximum-security prison since it opened in January 2002.