UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN 

SOUTHERN DIVISION 

LANEL LOYD, 

Petitioner, Case No: 15-20394 

v. Honorable Arthur J. Tarnow 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Respondent. 

April 29, 2020 

Honorable Arthur J. Tarnow 

Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse 

231 W. Lafayette Blvd. Room 124 

Detroit, Michigan 48226 

Dear Judge Arthur J. Tarnow: 

We, the family of Lanel Loyd, Inmate #51151-039 at FCI Loretto, plead for his medical and 

compassionate release from incarceration based on the following facts: 

1. According to the Center for Disease Control, the virus that causes COVID-19 is spread mainly 

from person to person, with spread being more likely when people are in close contact with one 

another. Further, “Incarcerated/detained persons live, work, eat, study, and recreate within 

congregate environments, heightening the potential for COVID-19 to spread once introduced”. 

2. Mr. Loyd has serious underlying medical conditions placing him at a higher risk for severe illness 

from COVID-19, which includes: being immunocompromised due to prolonged corticosteroid 

injections administered by the prison health officials to reduce his severe hip pain; being severely 

obese; having high blood pressure; having the sickle cell trait and being in constant pain and 

discomfort due to his damaged hip joint. 

3. Because of the above serious underlying medical conditions, FCI Loretto approached Mr. Loyd, 

during the month of April, to be considered for Home Confinement under the CARES Act and 

the Attorney General Guidelines. The prison officials advised Mr. Loyd that he was a good 

candidate for home confinement, and encouraged him to apply, which he did. Armed with 

encouragement and hope, Mr. Loyd began to make preparations to be released by securing a safe 

place to be sent to. However, FCI Loretto denied his application due to a new guideline that 

required for inmates to have already completed at least 50% of their sentence before release. This 

new guideline was not in place with FCI Loretto sought, encouraged, and advised Mr. Loyd to 

Case 2:15-cr-20394-AJT-RSW ECF No. 208, PageID.1386 Filed 05/07/20 Page 1 of 2
apply for Home Confinement. This decision caused Mr. Loyd great emotional and mental 

anguish, leaving him unable to eat or sleep. 

With the increased number of people dying and becoming severely ill with the coronavirus, we come to 

you because we have little time for delay to protect the health and safety of Mr. Loyd. We plead for you 

to appoint a federal defense attorney to review Mr. Loyd’s case to petition your court to order his 

immediate release. 

Best Regards, 

Novella S. Dumas, on behalf of the family of Lanel Loyd 

Shawneta Loyd – Wife of Lanel Loyd – 11784 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 

Barbara Loyd and Michael Smith – Parents of Lanel Loyd – 15325 Cherrylawn, Detroit MI 48238 

James and Novella Dumas – Brother and Sister in Law of Lanel Loyd – 25555 Hickory Hill Street, 

Southfield MI 48033 

Reverend Betty Taylor – Mother-in-law of Lanel Loyd – 5036 Red Fern Ct, Midlothian VA 23112 

Stacy Robert – Mother of Child & Family Friend – 17858 Dwyer St. Hamtramck MI 48212 

Princetta Loyd – Aunt of Lanel Loyd – 15352 Cherrylawn, Detroit MI 48238 

Jerome and Aletheia Fenderson – 5204 Tye Trl, Atlanta GA 30213 

Marcus Loyd – 16731 Lindsay, Detroit MI 48235 

Doris Dumas – 14544 Vauxhall Dr., Sterling Heights, MI 48313 

Mike Stanley Jr. – 3601 Overbrook, Jackson, MS 39301 

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