(CNN)Thomas Lane, one of the three former Minneapolis police officers convicted in February of violating George Floyd's civil rights, was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison on Thursday.
Federal prosecutors had asked Judge Paul A. Magnuso…
(CNN)Thomas Lane, one of the three former Minneapolis police officers convicted in February of violating George Floyd's civil rights, was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison on Thursday.
Federal prosecutors had asked Judge Paul A. Magnuson to sentence Lane to between 5.25 years to 6.5 years for his role in the fatal restraint of Floyd on a Minneapolis street in May 2020. Earl Gray, Lane's attorney, asked for a sentence of 2.25 years.
Judge Magnuson said that Lane had a "minimal role" in the incident, adding that he is a person of "outstanding character." The judge also noted he received 145 letters in support of Lane. "It's not unusual to receive letters. But I have never received so many letters," he said.
The judge recommended the Bureau of Prisons place Lane in the federal prison in Duluth, Minnesota, to be nearer to his family and friends for visitations.
In addition to the prison sentence, Lane will be required to pay mandatory restitution in an amount to be determined and will be placed on supervised release for two years after serving his prison term.
Lane declined to make a statement to the court.
Floyd's brother Philonise told the court Thursday about the effect of Lane's actions.
"Our family was given a death sentence May 25, we will never get George back," he said. "Officer Lane did not intervene in one way or another," he added.
The federal sentence comes more than two years after former officers Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng were first arrested for their actions -- or lack thereof -- in May 2020 as their colleague Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into the neck and back of Floyd, who was handcuffed and lying on his stomach, for more than nine minutes.
Lane, a rookie officer on his fourth day on the job, held down Floyd's legs during the arrest, while Kueng restrained his torso and Thao stood nearby and held back a crowd of upset bystanders. In federal court earlier this year, Lane testified that he asked Chauvin twice to reposition Floyd while restraining him but was denied both times.
