Beaumont federal prison bats down reports of inmate deaths, mistreatment following Harvey

Rumors of inmate deaths and widespread mistreatment have plagued the federal prison system in Beaumont following Hurricane Harvey. >>>See other photos of Beaumont following the storm ... Rumors of inmate deaths and widespread mistreatment have plagued the federal prison system in Beaumont following Hurricane Harvey. >>>See other photos of Beaumont following the storm ... Photo: BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images Photo: BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 64 Caption Close Beaumont federal prison bats down reports of inmate deaths, mistreatment following Harvey 1 / 64 Back to Gallery

The federal prison system in Beaumont has come under heavy criticism from prisoners and their families regarding alleged widespread mistreatment and unsubstantiated claims of two inmate deaths following Hurricane Harvey.

The most damning allegation – which the Federal Bureau of Prisons said is false –involves a claim from the wife of an alleged inmate. The woman claims two inmates had died inside Beaumont because the prison's precarious water situation and other mistreatment.

These claims were made by Rachel Villalobos in an article published by Left Voice Monday and have since circulated around social media. A request for comment has been placed with the unmamed author of the Left Voice article.

STORIES FROM INSIDE: Inmates inside Beaumont's federal prison share stories of grim conditions following Harvey

"I have an email saying that two inmates in [the medium-low risk prisoner unit] have passed away because of this treatment. I found out because an inmate's wife emailed me that. Her husband who is locked up told her. They need help," Left Voice quoted Villalobos as saying. "I know at least one of the people who died has been drinking the water. That's what got me. My husband has been drinking that water. I don't know the health situation of the rest of the prisoners, but if two people already died, they need to make a change now. This was a couple days ago."

Villalobos did not provide Left Voice with the names of the alleged inmates who died. A request for the inmates names has been made to numerous other inmates and families.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons fired back against the rumors of inmate deaths Tuesday afternoon.

"There have not been any inmate fatalities as a result of Hurricane Harvey or otherwise at FCC (federal correctional complex) Beaumont," the Federal Bureau of Prisons said. "Due to limited water in the city of Beaumont, the Federal Correctional Complex began using its own water reserves to operate the complex last Thursday, as noted on our public website. Inmates continue to receive bottled water and milk for drinking."

JUST IN TIME: More than 30 dogs saved from drowning in Beaumont community

Beaumont was one of the areas outside of Houston hit the hardest by Hurricane Harvey. The city made national news after its water supply was damaged, leaving its 120,000 residents without drinking water.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons added that no inmates were hospitalized as a result of the conditions in the institution following Harvey's impact. Inmates have 24-hour access to medical coverage in Beaumont, the bureau said.

There have been two inmate deaths this year at Beaumont's federal prison. One death occurred in January as a result of cancer and the other death occurred in March as a result of cardiac arrest.

In numerous Facebook messages and emails to various Hearst Newspapers, inmates and their families have raised concerns over a lack of food and unsanitary conditions relating to human waste disposal. At least one inmate reportedly has had to defecate in a plastic bag which could be discarded to prevent smells in his cell and was forced to shower using sanitary napkins, according to messages he sent his daughter.

"Portable toilets are accessible to inmates housed at the camp and low security facility and are emptied daily which has been sufficient," the Federal Bureau of Prisons stated. "Inmates at the medium and United States Penitentiary (USP) facilities have access to functioning toilets in their cells. All inmates at the Complex have access to the Inmate Telephone System (ITS) and email capabilities via CorrLinks. There have not been any reports of complaints regarding rotten food."

The Federal Bureau of Prisons denied The Houston Chronicle's request to visit the prison.

One person watching the situation in Beaumont closely is Azzurra Crispino, co-founder of Prison Abolition Prisoner Support (PAPS).

Crispino believes the stories from inmate's mothers and wives paint a very different picture than what officials are saying. That is why people are turning to each other on social media to try to piece together what is actually happening, Crispino said.

"For example, BOP (Bureau of Prisons) claims there is running water and electricity in all USP Beaumont units and plenty of food. Loved ones say otherwise. People don't believe BOP because they have reason to distrust their claims already. Same with TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice,) claiming there was never any standing water in any of the Beaumont units. There are too many reports from loved ones claiming otherwise for anyone to trust what (TDJC director) Jason Clark says," Crispino said by email.