Federal inmate found dead at USP Atwater; FBI notified

United States Penitentiary Atwater is a high-security federal prison in Merced County. Augustine Gallegos, 40, was serving a 140-month federal sentence in a methamphetamine case originating from a multi-agency investigation in Colorado. Atwater, CA (September 8, 2026) — A 40-year-old federal inmate died Saturday after being found unresponsive at the United States Penitentiary in Atwater, according to information released by federal prison officials. According to information provided by federal prison officials and reported by multiple news outlets, Augustine Gallegos was found unresponsive at approximately 9:40 a.m. Sept. 5 at USP Atwater. Prison employees attempted life-saving measures, but Gallegos died. Federal officials said the FBI was notified. No prison employees or other incarcerated people were injured. The information released about the death did not identify a cause or manner of death. Federal prison officials said Gallegos was serving a 140-month sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and had been housed at USP Atwater since June 2025. Federal records show Gallegos' case originated with a drug-trafficking investigation in Colorado. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announced in December 2022 that Gallegos was one of seven people indicted following a 10-month federal investigation into drug trafficking in Colorado Springs. According to the federal indictment, the seven defendants were accused of conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Gallegos was also charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The investigation involved the FBI's Denver Division, Drug Enforcement Administration Rocky Mountain Division, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Colorado Springs Police Department, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Federal court records show Gallegos was later scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing in June 2024 and a sentencing hearing before Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore on Sept. 27, 2024. The case number was 22-cr-00345-RM. USP Atwater is a high-security federal penitentiary with an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp. The Bureau of Prisons lists the facility at 1 Federal Way in Atwater.