Lawsuit Exposes Culture of Abuse at Texas Federal Women’s Prison
Federal prison is meant for discipline, not exploitation, but at FMC Carswell, a women’s federal prison in Fort Worth, the line between punishment and abuse has been erased. Two former inmates say the prison became a hunting ground for a staff member who raped and harassed women.
Jane Doe’s Nightmare
Jane Doe thought she was being sent to Carswell for medical care. Instead, she says she was handed over to recreation specialist Marerllis Nix, who turned his office, closets, and even sheds into personal crime scenes. Between mid-May and July 4th, 2021, he repeatedly raped her, according to a new lawsuit.
And here’s the kicker: other staff saw it happening. One officer heard Nix order Jane Doe to clean his office alone. Another watched him take her out of her unit, again and again. A supervisor even admitted he suspected an “entanglement.” Nobody stopped him. Nobody reported him.
When Jane Doe begged a prison nurse for STD testing, she was brushed off. When she finally reported the assaults, she wasn’t protected — she was punished. Guards mocked her as a “snitch” and threw her into isolation.
April Lacey Speaks Out
Jane Doe isn’t alone. April Lacey, an El Paso woman, says she was also targeted by Nix while sick with COVID-19. According to her lawsuit, he twice raped her while she was quarantined in the recreation area. Another staffer watched him order her into a room but didn’t lift a finger.
And when she reported it? Retaliation. Lacey says she was slapped with a bogus disciplinary ticket that cost her a month of freedom.
A Prison with a Reputation
This isn’t just about two women. From 2012 to 2022, FMC Carswell had more substantiated sexual abuse cases by staff than any other women’s prison in the country 22 confirmed victims, far outpacing other facilities. Carswell isn’t new to scandal, either. Since 1997, at least 12 staffers have been convicted of sexual abuse, including a chaplain and a correctional officer. One insider bluntly called Carswell “the perfect place for sexual misconduct.” Sound familiar? The only other federal women’s prison close to these numbers is FCI Dublin in California — better known now as the “rape club.”
The Call-Out
Advocates and lawyers are done being polite.
“When the government takes someone into custody, they have one job: keep them safe. Carswell is not safe and hasn’t been safe,” said David B. Rankin, attorney at Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP.
“This is an ongoing horror show which must stop,” added Houston lawyer Randall Kallinen. “We need people to speak out about this epidemic of rape by federal employees at Carswell.”
Marci Marie Simmons, of Lioness Justice, a Texas group fighting for incarcerated women, said it plainly:
“The trauma and long-lasting effects of this violence cannot be understated. These women matter — no matter what they’ve done.”
Next Moves
Jane Doe and April Lacey are suing the federal government and Nix. Their legal teams are demanding not just justice for their clients, but a full outside investigation into Carswell — and real reform across the Bureau of Prisons.
Until then, one ugly truth remains: FMC Carswell isn’t a medical facility. It’s a scandal factory — and for far too many women, it’s been a nightmare they can’t forget.
