Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Low (FCI Butner Low): a low-security facility, opened in 1995.
Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Medium I (FCI Butner Medium I): a medium-security facility, opened in 1976
Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Medium II (FCI Butner Medium II): a medium-security facility, opened in 2006
Federal Medical Center, Butner (FMC Butner): a facility which houses inmates of all security levels with health issues, opened in 1995.
The complex lies in an unincorporated area on the county line between Durham County to the west and Granville County to the east. On the Durham County side, the portion of the prison is in Mangum Township, while on the Granville County side it is in Dutchville Township.
Incidents
Alleged Madoff assault
On March 18, 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bernie Madoff, the New York financier serving a 150-year sentence at FCI Butner for running a Ponzi scheme that cost investors billions of dollars, was assaulted by another inmate in December 2009. Citing three sources, a current inmate, a former inmate, and a prison employee, the newspaper reported that the assailant was an inmate serving time for a drug conviction who believed that Madoff owed him money. The inmate reported that Madoff suffered a broken nose, fractured ribs, and cuts to his head and face. In response to the report, Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Denise Simmons said, "We have no knowledge or information to confirm he was assaulted."
Murder plot
On November 16, 2011, James Lukinoff, an inmate at FCI Butner, was indicted for planning to assault and kill an FBI agent who had been involved in investigating the crime for which Lukinoff was sent to prison. The indictment alleged that, from February 2009 to April 2011, Lukinoff developed and pursued a plan to purchase a suppressor and had a friend or family member store it until his release from prison. Once released, Lukinoff planned to retrieve the suppressor and his firearm, and kill the agent. Lukinoff pleaded guilty to retaliating against a federal official by threat on June 20, 2012. He is currently being held at the Federal Medical Center, Butner and is scheduled for release in 2024.
Sentence commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2001; served his sentence at the minimum-security prison camp.
Illinois Congressman from 1993 to 1995; convicted in 1995 of sexual assault, obstruction of justice and solicitation of child pornography in connection with his relationship with a 16-year-old campaign worker; convicted in 1997 of bank fraud.
Served 11 years of a 150-year sentence until his death on April 14, 2021.
Former financier; pleaded guilty in 2009 to fraud, money laundering, perjury and theft for perpetrating the largest Ponzi scheme in US history, robbing thousands of investors of over $65 billion over 20 years; the story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed. Died in 2021.
Attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1981, as the culmination of an effort to impress teen actress Jodie Foster; found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982.
Serving a 31 year sentence, Scheduled for release on December 21, 2045.
Former R&B singer and music artist, convicted of racketeering, violations of the Mann Act, producing child pornography, sex trafficking, and child exploitation charges.
Serving a 40-year sentence, scheduled for release in 2046. Currently at USP McCreary.
Convicted of one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, and one count of possession of an unregistered automatic firearm in connection with a terrorist plot
Served 30 months. Released on the morning of June 22, 2015, after spending three months serving his remaining sentence in a halfway house.
Illinois Congressman from 1995 to 2012, and son of Jesse Jackson. In early February 2013, Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, conspiracy, making false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, and criminal forfeiture—having used about $750,000 in campaign money for over 3,000 personal purchases that included a Michael Jacksonfedora and cashmere capes.
Served 10 years of a 27-year sentence, released in a prisoner exchange on August 1, 2024.
Russian hacker; convicted in 2017 on 38 counts of hacking, wire fraud, and racketeering for stealing and selling millions of credit card numbers, causing more than $169 million in damages to businesses and banks.
Died in 2022 while serving a 30-year sentence; had been scheduled for release in 2029.
Co-founder of the now-defunctCali Cartel, which was responsible for as much as 80% of the cocaine brought into the US in the 1970s and 1980s; co-founder Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela is also serving a 30-year sentence.
Boss of the current Lucchese crime family in New York City; convicted in 1992 of racketeering and murder in connection with nine murders, as well as extortion, gambling and labor corruption.
Sentenced to 30 years; originally scheduled for release in 2037. Compassionately released on September 29, 2020.
Former Chairman of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corporation; convicted in 2011 of fraud for masterminding a $2.9 billion scheme that led to the 2009 collapse of Colonial Bank; the story was featured on the CNBC program American Greed.
Serving a 22-year sentence. Currently at RRM Dallas; scheduled for release in 2026.
Founder of the now defunct Bayou Hedge Fund Group; pleaded guilty in 2008 to defrauding investors of $400 million; attempted to fake his own suicide to avoid prison; the story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed.
Sentenced to 24 years; originally scheduled for release in 2029. Compassionately released on March 24, 2021.
Former Charleston Southern Universityeconomist, who was sentenced to federal prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to financial fraud. Nearly 300 people lost up to $66 million invested in Parish Economic's private investment funds. Before being charged with fraud, Parish was known as a flamboyant local financial expert dubbed 'Economan', and was known for his $1.2 million pen collection, including a $170,000 diamond-encrusted pen. Included in the fraud was over $4 million set aside for athletic facilities improvements at Charleston Southern University.
Serving a 30-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2034.
Administrator of "The Cache," an online bulletin board where hundreds of child pornographers from around the world shared images and videos of children being molested; convicted in 2013 of advertising and distributing child pornography.
In popular culture
In the final episode of the television series Better Call Saul, the series' main character Saul Goodman refers to Butner as his ideal prison, and unsuccessfully attempts to serve his sentence there.