Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 21 Years On Federal Charges For Violating George Floyd’s Civil Rights

Derek Chauvin, George Floyd

Derek Chauvin Sentenced To 21 Years On Federal Charges For Violating George Floyd’s Civil Rights

New details have surfaced in the Derek Chauvin trial. 

According to reports, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison on federal civil rights charges today (July 7) for violating George Floyd’s civil rights.

The 46-year-old Minnesota native initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but in December 2021, he pleaded guilty. He also admitted that he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even after he became unresponsive. Around this time Prosecutors also accused Chauvin of kneeling on the neck of a then 14-year-old in a 2017 case. 

Reportedly, Derek Chauvin’s plea agreement called for a 20- to 25-year sentence and for him to serve the federal sentence at the same time as the state one in federal prison. 

George Floyd, Derek Chauvin

Chauvin was convicted in a separate case on state charges of murder and manslaughter for his actions and is already behind bars.

As you may already know, in 2020, George Floyd was detained by Minneapolis police for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. During the controversial detainment, Chauvin suffocated George Floyd by pressing his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes. Video footage of the incident shows Floyd gasping and repeatedly saying,

“I can’t breathe.”

Former MPD Officer Derek Chauvin pins his knee on George Floyd’s neck

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