Inmate Escapes Northern California Federal Prison Camp

MERCED COUNTY, CA — Officials are searching for an inmate who escaped from the U.S. Federal Prison Camp in Atwater on Sunday morning, prison officials said. According to officials, staff realized Eric Pree, 47, was missing from the minimum- security camp around 10 a.m. Sunday morning. The U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement were notified of the escape. As of Monday morning, Pree has not been found.

Pree is described as a black man. He is about 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds. Pree was serving time for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, officials said.

The camp houses more than 130 men. Anyone who sees Pree is asked to call local law enforcement, the nearest office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the prison CEO at 209-386-0257.

Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Justice