BUREAU OF PRISON AND DEPT OF JUSTICE COVER UP SEXUAL ABUSE AND PREVENT TAKING ACTIONS TO STOP THE ABUSE!!!

My name is Crystal Bradshaw #16240-033.

In February 2016, while housed at my first (of many ) Bureau Of Prisons (BOP) facilities, I was harassed and assaulted numerous times by an officer, RW .(I will only use his initials at this time).

I endured this abuse along with my cellblock mate, Margo.

When I arrived at Hazelton SFF -- Secure Female Facility -- Margo had already been involved in a sexual relationship with Officer RW. So upon my arrival, I didn't really want to stir up anything or stick my nose in their business because at Hazelton there is a pecking order. The prison is very violent. It is run by Washington, DC, inmates, not the staff.

Officer RW brought in contraband Tobacco and Suboxin to many of the DC inmates so they were what I and Hazelton inmates consider his enforcers. They would do anything to stop him from getting into trouble because these DC inmates did not want to lose the contraband that he continued to introduce into the prison. When I say they would do anything, I mean violence, extreme VIOLENCE!

At first, Officer RW had me standing outside my cell door while he had sex with Margo under the ruse of doing a cell search with a cover over the door window (this is something done by most staff, door covered by staff so inmates can't watch the search).

After awhile of this, I was told to come in. There was tobacco and suboxin he had given Margo for sex. He told me to kiss Margo and then he rubbed my breast. He would watch and instruct me and Margo to have sex on his demand.

This sexual abuse continued several times, but Margo eventually got moved from our unit. It was then that he focused his sexual advances and harassment solely towards me.

He would come in, I was instructed to bend over the toilet (located in the cell), and he would vaginally and anally take my body. While these assaults happened, I would zone out while he did me roughly and took what he wanted. More than once I told him to stop, but that did NOT deter him from the abuse!

I endured this until I finally couldn't take it anymore. I signed myself into protective custody after I reported it several times to no avail on the Dept. Of Justice sexual abuse reporting portal.

Staff at Hazelton talked to me but left me in unit until I forced the staff to place me in Protective Custody, where they retaliated, took away privileges and made it impossible to use the phone to contact outside family.

I asked for help from staff. After 45 days, the Dept of Justice came in and asked me about the abuse. They left me in lockdown and caught Officer RW bringing in contraband and took his job. Finally BOP moved me to Federal Medical Center in Carswell TX.

My voice had been stolen. I trusted no one, especially BOP staff because they are supposed to protect us but in my case like many others they allowed their employee to rape, sodomize and harass us and abuse their power.

They also used their control to prevent me from filing for help from the courts. Hazelton staff said to let it go for my safety until I'm released. So I did just that out of fear and intimidation.

I was looked at like I was a liar. BOP took my voice, their staff used my body and broke it, and they broke me mentally.

I was nothing until February 2025 when lead BOP attorney Adam Boyer and the lead Dept of Justice lawyer called Danbury CT where I was housed. I was going through the Female integrated trauma program, which I asked for because the trauma from the rapes caused me PTSD, depression, fear and anxiety to the point I couldn't deal with it.

BOP and DOJ asked me to testify about the abuse and introduction of contraband by their staff. They told me I'd be referred to a Halfway House after testimony so I would be safe. They had Acting US Attorney Randolph Bernard sign this agreement.

I testified and relived this abuse that I had tried to bury inside me. In the end, after the testimony, I was told out of the blue that I had a probation violation detainer based on a new charge in Clay County Kentucky.

BOP's Adam Boyer called Clay County on Feb. 25 to discuss the agreement he had reached with me, DOJ, BOP and the Acting US Attorney. By some strange coincidence, on Feb. 27, two days later, a probation violation charge was introduced against me for events that happened TWO YEARS EARLIER in 2023. Heckuva coincidence. NOT. This was retaliation.

So here I sit in a cell, locked up in solitary confinement, allowed out of my cell one hour a day. I should be at a Halfway House. I wonder if I get more prison time what abuse I will face this time? Will I be raped again? Beaten up?

This does happen, because in Nov. 2024, BOP housed me at FDC Philadelphia where I was assaulted by two inmates. I then learned that it was because Philadelphia has the same captain working there who was at Hazelton when I was abused. The captain did NOTHING to stop these assaults. Medical reports and photos are all done at FDC Philadelphia.

My question now is, what's next? BOP recently closed down FCI Dublin because the staff used inmates for sex and the abuse was covered up for years until finally BOP and DOJ had to do something! The culture of abuse was so ingrained at Dublin, they closed the Facility after trying to fix the problem for 20+ years.

We female inmates are human and should have voices, but if we weren't broken enough the staff in Bureau of Prisons broke our bodies and spirits.

When we are sentenced, it should not be to endure rapes, violence and abuse. My biggest fear is going back. Right now, Clay County Kentucky has the power to send me back to this. I'm not sure they realize how extensive the abuse will be for me because I reported this.

My body, my mind, my spirit are broken, but if I return to custody, staff and inmates will know I've “snitched”. I will be like the survivors of the Dublin sex abuse that BOP staff calls "The Dublin Bitches." I will have to endure the abuse they continue to endure.

I'm asking you to put yourself in my shoes. For one moment, think of what it feels like to have no voice, no one you can trust to help you.

Please stop the abuse. Don't let this continue . Help me bring this to light. We matter!

STOP THE ABUSE!

STOP THE COVER UP!

bring this to light. We matter!

STOP THE ABUSE!

STOP THE COVER UP!