A former Rikers Island Correction Officer convicted of ignoring the medical needs of an inmate who later died has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Prosecutors say 51-year-old Terrence Pendergrass refused to help 25-year-old Jason Echevarria after the inmate in solitary confinement swallowed detergent.
They say Pendergrass told other officers he didn't want to be bothered unless there was a dead body.
He also told an officer to hang up the phone when they tried to call for help for Echevarria.
The inmate died in his cell.
Pendergrass was convicted of depriving Echevarria of his civil rights.
He was also fined $5,000 dollars.