Federal Prison Camp Yankton
If Tom Lakin gets his way on prison placement, he will serve his 72 month sentence at Bureau of Prison's Federal Prison Camp (FPC) in Yankton, S.D.
At a hearing on Sept. 10, the prominent attorney pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing cocaine to a person under 21 and maintaining a drug-involved premises. In exchange for his guilty plea, federal prosecutors dropped sex charges against him.
Lakin was ordered to be detained pending his Oct. 8, sentencing as is currently being held in custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
During the hearing, Lakin's lawyer, Scott Rosenblum of St. Louis, reminded U.S. District Judge J. Phil Gilbert of a conversation the two had in his chambers back in March, when, according to Rosenblum, Gilbert agreed to recommend that Lakin serve his time at a low security FPC.
Rosenblum also reminded Gilbert that he said he would even call the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
According to the BOP, FPCs have dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing and are work- and program-oriented.
Ultimately, the decision where to place Lakin is with BOP.
After the hearing, Rosenblum told a group of reporters that Lakin will likely serve his time at Yankton.
"It is a nice facility actually," Rosenblum said of Yankton, which is located in southeastern South Dakota, 60 miles northwest of Sioux City, Iowa.
He said Yankton does not have any perimeter walls or bars on the cells and that inmates are free to roam the institution's grounds.
Rosenblum added that it was "not uncommon" for someone convicted on charges similar to Lakin to serve their time at a FPC.
As of Sept. 11, Yankton houses 793 inmates.
Lakin will be allowed visitors from 4:30 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. on Fridays and from 8:15 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays.