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4 S. Fla. Guards Face Charges Related To Prisoner Abuse

MIAMI (CBS4) -- Four corrections officers at South Florida Reception Center face charges related to inmate abuse allegations.

The U.S. Justice Department announced indictments Friday against 30-year-old Alexander McQueen, 31-year-old Guruba Griffin, 32-year-old Scott Butler, and 30-year-old Steven Dawkins. They are charged with conspiring to violate the civil rights of inmates at SFRC. McQueen and Dawkins are also charged with obstruction of justice.

Authorities say the officers physically abused inmates and forced them to fight each other in February 2009.

Each man faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. McQueen and Dawkins face an additional 20 years each for the obstruction charges.

It wasn't immediately known if the defendants had attorneys.

(© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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