8th inmate dies of coronavirus at Terminal Island federal prison

An eighth inmate at Terminal Island died on Wednesday of coronavirus, almost one month after he was placed on a ventilator, according to federal prison officials.

James Lino, a 65-year-old man, was sent to the hospital on April 16. He was placed on a ventilator just two days later, prison officials said. His death comes less than a week after the seventh inmate at Terminal Island died of coronavirus.

Nearly 70 percent of inmates at the prison have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials have said.

Officials said Lino had longterm, pre-existing medical conditions before he was hospitalized. Lino was serving a 34-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute and possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He was sentenced in Hawaii, and had been at Terminal Island in San Pedro since Feb. 14, 2019.

Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Carson, and Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Manhattan Beach, sent a letter to Michael Carvajal, the federal Bureau of Prisons director, requesting that he take steps to place all inmates on home confinement or exercise compassionate release.

Prision officials said Tuesday that inmates “meeting the criteria for home confinement are continually being reviewed for referral and placement.”