Ex-officer Convicted in George Floyd Murder Released from Prison

MINNEAPOLIS — One of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd has been released from prison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has confirmed.

Thomas Lane was convicted in 2022 for violating Floyd’s civil rights during the infamous incident on May 25, 2020, when former officer Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd. Lane received a 2.5-year sentence in federal prison.

Earlier the same year, Lane was found guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter on state charges, leading to a three-year sentence. Notably, two of those three years were served concurrently with his federal sentence, which concluded on February 26 of this year.

Lane completed his incarceration in a Colorado facility. Following his release, he is expected to be placed under supervision.

He was one of four former officers charged in connection to Floyd’s murder, which ignited widespread protests both in Minnesota and across the globe.

Derek Chauvin, who was prominently involved in the case, was convicted of state murder and manslaughter charges, receiving a sentence of 22.5 years. His appeals to the Supreme Court regarding this conviction were denied last fall. In addition to the state charges, he pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations, resulting in an additional 21-year sentence.

Co-defendant J. Alexander Kueng entered a guilty plea to manslaughter, receiving a 3.5-year sentence. Meanwhile, Tou Thao was found guilty of second-degree aiding and abetting manslaughter, resulting in a nearly five-year sentence. Both Kueng and Thao were also convicted of civil rights violations, leading to sentences of three and 3.5 years, respectively.

All sentences, both state and federal, were served concurrently.

The aftermath of George Floyd’s murder prompted a comprehensive investigation into the practices of the Minneapolis Police Department. Both the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice conducted inquiries, uncovering long-standing patterns of discriminatory practices. As a result, the city was required to enter into consent decrees aimed at reforming police practices.