A federal inmate charged in the fatal stabbing of another federal inmate at the Lackawanna County Prison pleaded guilty on Monday to voluntary manslaughter.
Eli Calero, 43, of East Stroudsburg, caused the death of Michael Jones Jr., 45, of Wilkes-Barre, following a physical altercation inside the Lackawanna County Prison, according to a news release from the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s office.
Calero and Jones were U.S. Marshals Service prisoners being housed on the same block at the prison while their federal drug cases progressed through the federal court system. During the altercation Sept. 9, 2025, Jones suffered blunt-force trauma to the head that resulted in his death.
“After carefully reviewing all of the evidence and the facts voluntary manslaughter is the appropriate resolution of this case,” Gallagher said in an email. “It is a Felony of the First Degree and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison, and Mr. Calero has now accepted criminal responsibility for causing Mr. Jones’s death.”
Both men were in prison on drug charges.
Calero was indicted by a federal grand jury in March on a drug trafficking charge. The indictment alleges Calero possessed over 500 grams of methamphetamine and an amount of cocaine for distribution.
In December, a federal jury found Jones guilty of conspiracy to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm while a felon and related charges. He had yet to be sentenced.