MCC Guards Charged with Falsifying Prison Records — November 2019
Two guards at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, are indicted on charges of falsifying prison records on the night Jeffrey Epstein died. Federal prosecutors allege the guards falsely recorded they had conducted required checks on Epstein's cell while he was found dead in the morning. The case reflects systemic failures at the chronically understaffed facility.
People Involved
On November 19, 2019, federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against two Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) correctional officers — Tova Noel and Michael Thomas — alleging they had falsified records relating to the night Jeffrey Epstein died.
The Charges
The officers were charged with:
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States
- Making false records
- Falsification of documents in a federal investigation
What the Indictment Alleged
The indictment alleged that Noel and Thomas had falsified logbook entries indicating they had conducted required 30-minute checks on Epstein in the hours before his body was discovered. In reality, prosecutors alleged, neither had checked on Epstein during the critical overnight period.
What the Officers Were Doing Instead
The indictment described Noel as spending hours browsing the internet and filling online shopping carts, and Thomas as sleeping in his chair. Both were working overtime and were reportedly exhausted.
Systemic Context
The charges against the individual guards did not resolve broader questions about why Epstein was allowed to be alone in his cell — he had been removed from suicide watch days earlier. Both MCC procedure and the individual officers’ actions came under scrutiny. The facility was chronically understaffed, with guards routinely working double and triple shifts.
Case Resolution
After years of procedural delays, the DOJ ultimately moved to dismiss the charges against both officers in 2021, citing substantial delays and changed circumstances. Neither was convicted.
Significance
The charges, and their eventual dismissal, exemplified the limited legal accountability that characterized the entire Epstein case — an unsatisfying outcome that left fundamental questions about responsibility for his death unresolved.