The legal battle surrounding the Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, has taken an unexpected turn as he fights to keep the funds he has accumulated in his prison canteen account. Tsarnaev, who was convicted and sentenced to death for carrying out the 2013 bombing, is facing attempts by federal prosecutors to seize over $4,000 from his account. The case highlights the controversial issue of whether a convicted criminal should be allowed to retain such funds.
According to the Boston Herald, Tsarnaev’s attorney has filed an appeal seeking to prevent federal authorities in Boston from taking his client’s money. The attorney argues that Tsarnaev is not hoarding funds or spending recklessly. Prosecutors claim that Tsarnaev has received around $26,000 in donations from various sources, including strangers, his sisters, and his attorneys.
In addition to the donations, Tsarnaev’s lawyer confirmed that his client received a $1,400 COVID relief payment a few years ago. It was also revealed that Tsarnaev continues to receive unsolicited deposits from people he has never met. However, it is important to note that Tsarnaev does not have access to these funds.
Federal officials in Massachusetts have been pursuing Tsarnaev for over two years, trying to get him to hand over the COVID relief money and any other funds in his inmate trust account. The intention is to use these funds towards the substantial restitution payment of over $101 million that Tsarnaev owes his victims. Following his 2015 trial, Tsarnaev was ordered to pay this significant sum along with an additional $3,000 fee. So far, he has only paid $2,600.
Tsarnaev’s conviction stems from the 2013 bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The devastating blast claimed the lives of three people and left more than 260 others injured. Seventeen of the injured victims suffered the loss of at least one limb. In the aftermath of the bombing, Tsarnaev and his brother led police on a multi-day chase, during which a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer, Sean Collier, was tragically shot and killed. Tsarnaev’s brother, Tamerlan, also died during the pursuit.
Currently held at Colorado’s ADMAX Florence, dubbed “The Alcatraz of the Rockies,” Tsarnaev awaits the outcome of his attorneys’ efforts to have his death sentence overturned. It is worth noting that the cost of Tsarnaev’s incarceration has already exceeded $1 million, much to the dismay of retired warden Bob Hood. Hood views Tsarnaev’s access to thousands of dollars in his prison account as offensive, stating that he entered prison without any means and should remain in a similar position. He finds it sickening that Tsarnaev still has a following.
The legal battle over Tsarnaev’s prison canteen account highlights the complexities and ethical dilemmas associated with convicted criminals retaining funds while serving their sentences. As the case unfolds, it raises questions about justice, restitution, and the responsibility of society towards those who commit heinous acts. The outcome of this battle will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for future cases and could set a precedent for how such funds are handled in the future.
