In
Memory of
Michael Anita
12/1972 - 7/2003
This was his ad on Worldwide Friends
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.
Sheriffs Sgt. Ken Thurman, supervisor of the Merced County Coroners
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
ATWATER, Calif. - An
Atwater Federal Penitentiary prisoner serving a life sentence for carjacking
has been found dead in his cell, prison officials said. Michael Edward
Anita, 30, of Casa Grande, Ariz., was the victim of a possible stabbing
on Wednesday, prison spokesman Jesse Gonzales said.
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.
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