Loretto inmate seeks release

Malik claims he is at risk of death from prison’s virus outbreak

The Federal Correctional Institution at Loretto has been ordered to respond this week to a letter sent by the attorney of an inmate requesting home detention because of his client's "significant health conditions that place him at a greater risk of death from COVID-19."

The letter was sent to the U.S. District Court in Johnstown by attorney Timothy C. Parlatore on behalf of Dr. Atif Malik, who is serving a five-year prison term for fraud.

The attorney stated that his letter was to be considered "supplementary information" to papers filed earlier this year by Malik as he sought his release to home detention.

The letter points out that the number of inmates at the federal prison in Loretto who have contacted the coronavirus more than doubled within a few days.

In the letter filed with the court, written Dec. 8, it stated that the number of inmates with COVID-19 totaled 167, while 22 staff members are suffering with the virus.

That total was an increase of 75 inmates and 21 staff with COVID-19 since Dec. 3.

The attorney stated the number of positive COVID-19 cases was 307.

The Altoona Mirror reported late last week the number of infected inmates at Loretto had risen to more than 400.

"As outlined in our papers, Dr. Malik has significant health conditions that place him at greater risk of death from COVID-19," it was stated.

The letter asks an "expedited video conference hearing on this matter, as any delay poses a substantial danger to Dr. Malik's health and risk of death."

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge has ordered FIC Loretto to respond immediately.

Malik was among the first inmates in the area to request home detention due to the dangers of COVID-19.

His first petition was filed in March.

On April 20, he submitted a handwritten petition requesting compassionate release and citing the federal CARES Act that recognizes the threat from the virus to inmates in federal institutions.

Malik, 50, reasoned that he is serving a term for a nonviolent offense and has had no incidents in the prison. He contended he has served more than half his sentence.

He said he suffers from hypertension, diabetes, heart and lung problems and "chronic autoimmune conditions."

While Malik was among the first to raise concerns about COVID-19 at Loretto, several inmates of the federal prison last week appealed to the federal court in Johnstown to address the problem.