MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A woman working as a nurse in the federal prison system in Minnesota is accused of sexually assaulting a prison inmate and lying about it.
Jessica Lynn Larson, 37, of Iowa, was indicted last week on abusive sexual contact with an inmate and making false statements to federal law enforcement about the interaction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
“In Minnesota, we take sexual abuse—particularly when committed by those in positions of authority—very seriously,” said Kirkpatrick.
“Likewise, lying to the United States is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute defendants who commit these crimes.”
Larson will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on April 9.
Larson was employed as a nurse by the Bureau of Prisons, assigned to the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota. While working there, Larson began a romantic relationship with an incarcerated inmate, “Victim A,” at FMC Rochester, authorities said.
Throughout their relationship, Larson exchanged sexually explicit letters with the inmate, according to prosecutors.
On April 3, 2024, Larson and the inmate “had a sexual encounter” in a shower room, authorities said.
Shortly afterwards, other nursing staff reported Larson’s inappropriate relationship with the inmate, investigators said. A search of the inmate’s prison cell turned up hidden letters from Larson, according to prosecutors.
Board of Prison officials then found letters from the inmate inside Larson’s backpack, authorities said.
After being confronted about her relationship, Larson submitted a BOP indicate report in which she falsely accused the inmate of sexual assault and claimed that he had threatened to hurt her children if she refused his sexual advances or reported his assault, according to prosecutors.
Two months later, after being placed on administrative leave, Larson drove more than 600 miles from her home in Iowa to Cincinnati, Ohio, to mail a love letter to the inmate who had been transferred to another BOP facility, authorities said.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General and the Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
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