A federal grand jury in Louisville has indicted one former and two current Kentucky State Police Troopers on charges of violating civil rights. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office.
The indictment accuses former trooper Thomas Czartorski, 34, of two counts of using unreasonable force under Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. Current trooper Jarrod Lewis, 29, faces one count of using unreasonable force. Another current trooper, James Cameron Wright, 30, is charged with two counts of using unreasonable force and one count of perjury for false declarations under oath related to a federal civil case involving civil rights violations.
Czartorski, Lewis, and Wright are scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on April 3, 2025. If convicted, Czartorski could face up to 20 years in prison; Lewis could face up to 10 years; and Wright could face up to 25 years. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
It is noted that there is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force is investigating this case.
Prosecuting attorneys include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl from the Western District of Kentucky along with Trial Attorneys Anita Channapati and Katherine DeVar from the Civil Rights Division.
The indictment serves as an allegation only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.