FPC Duluth
The Federal Prison Camp, Duluth (FPC Duluth) is a minimum-security federal prison camp for men in Duluth, Minnesota, on the site of the former Duluth Air Force Base. In 2026 the Bureau of Prisons announced it will transition from a minimum-security camp to an FSL (Federal Satellite Low) facility: the end of a two-year saga in which the camp was slated for deactivation, saved by Minnesota's congressional delegation, and then restructured.
Location
Physical location: 4900 Highway 53, Duluth, MN 55811 (former Duluth Air Force Base)
Mailing address: 4900 Highway 53, Duluth, MN 55811
Visitation
Per facility PDF (dth_visit); directories list ~8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. designated days; call (218) 722-8634.
The camp held about 510 men in 2024; after the closure scare and conversion, the November 2026 BOP weekly report lists roughly 250. FPC Duluth offers BOP RDAP (the residential drug-treatment program), which historically drove designations there.
The Closure Saga (2024–2026)
In December 2024, the BOP announced it would deactivate the camp, citing staffing shortages and aging infrastructure, reporting described condemned buildings and asbestos concerns. Senator Klobuchar and Representative Stauber pushed back through 2025, and in July 2025 the BOP reversed: Duluth would remain open. Then on July 1, 2026, the BOP's system-wide restructuring announced Duluth would transition to an FSL facility rather than close [1].
Facility and Programs
Address: 4900 Highway 53, Duluth, MN 55811. Phone: (218) 722-8634. Male only; minimum security moving to low. RDAP is available on site. As a camp, the facility had no perimeter fence; the FSL conversion will change the custody profile of future designations.
Notable Inmates
Current: rapper Jasper 'Lil Shine' Johnson (36-month federal sentence, surrendered July 2026). Historical: ex-NFL receiver Joshua Bellamy (COVID-loan fraud), Minnesota auto dealer Denny Hecker, MLB pitcher Jerry Koosman, Vikings tight end Stu Voigt.
First-hand accounts
First-person threads from Reddit (r/prison and similar communities): useful for what the official sources don't say:
- r/Prison, FPC Duluth newly designated, what's camp life like?: pre-surrender questions
- r/minnesota, closure announcement reactions: aging infrastructure discussion
- r/Prison, surrendering tomorrow (Duluth): self-surrender experiences
Notable inmates
| Name | Sentence | Offense / why notable | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper 'Lil Shine' Johnson | pluggnb rapper, 36-month sentence, surrendered July 2026 | ||
| Joshua Bellamy | ex-NFL wide receiver, COVID-relief fraud | ||
| Denny Hecker | Minnesota auto dealer, bankruptcy fraud | ||
| Jerry Koosman | MLB pitcher, tax case |
In the News
- Duluth federal prison camp to remain open, closure reversed after congressional pressure. MPR News (July 16, 2025). [2]
- Stauber announces FPC Duluth will remain open and operational: congressional reversal announcement. Rep. Pete Stauber (July 15, 2025). [3]
- BOP announces facility closures and operational changes, Duluth transitions to FSL. Federal Bureau of Prisons (July 1, 2026). [1]
- Bureau of Prisons announces multiple facility closings citing budget: analysis of the restructuring. Forbes (Walter Pavlo) (July 1, 2026). [4]
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Federal Bureau of Prisons Announces Facility Closures and Operational Changes". Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved November 10, 2026. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "bop20260701" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ "Duluth federal prison camp to remain open". MPR News. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Stauber announces FPC Duluth will remain open and operational". Rep. Pete Stauber. Retrieved November 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Bureau of Prisons announces multiple facility closings citing budget". Forbes (Walter Pavlo). Retrieved November 10, 2026.
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