A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced two former Minneapolis police officers for violating the civil rights of George Floyd.
Judge Paul Magnuson sentenced J. Alexander Kueng to three years in prison and Tou Thao to three and a half years for their role in Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020, after then-officer Derek Chauvin took a knee in Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.
Kueng held Floyd’s back, Thao restrained bystanders and a fourth officer, Thomas Lane, held Floyd’s feet.
Lane was sentenced last week to two years, another sentence below the guidelines. Floyd’s brother, Philonise, called it “insulting.” Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years.
The lower sentences for Kueng and Thao raise questions about whether they would consider a plea deal or risk a trial in state court on Oct. 24, when they face charges of accessory to second-degree murder.
Sentencing guidelines on the federal charges call for 4¼ to 5¼ years for Kueng and 5 ¼ to 6 ½ years for Thao. For both, prosecutors argued for sentences within that range or longer, arguing in Kueng’s case that he “didn’t say a word” as Floyd lay dying.
The federal government filed civil rights charges against the four officers in May 2021, a month after Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in court.
