View source for Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Brooklyn

The '''Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Brooklyn''' is a United States federal administrative detention facility in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, [[New York City]]. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). 

As of January 3, 2026, the facility has gained international notoriety as the primary detention site for captured Venezuelan leader [[The Capture of Nicolás Maduro|Nicolás Maduro]] following his arrival in the United States.

=== Facility and Security ===
The MDC Brooklyn is a high-rise facility that houses over 1,600 male and female inmates. It is designed to hold defendants awaiting trial or sentencing in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
* '''High-Security Unit (SHU):''' Maduro is reportedly held in a specialized, ultra-secure unit. These units are designed for total isolation and 24-hour electronic surveillance.
* '''Staffing:''' In response to Maduro's arrival, the BOP has deployed additional personnel from its '''Special Operations Response Teams (SORT)''' to augment the facility's standard security detail.
* '''External Security:''' The New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the U.S. Marshals Service have established a restricted "no-fly" and "no-entry" perimeter around the facility.

=== Notable Inmates ===
The MDC has historically housed some of the most high-profile federal defendants in U.S. history, including:
* '''Ghislaine Maxwell:''' Held during her sex-trafficking trial.
* '''Sam Bankman-Fried:''' Held following the revocation of his bail in the FTX fraud case.
* '''R. Kelly:''' Held during his racketeering and sex-crimes trial.
* '''Nicolás Maduro (2026):''' Currently awaiting arraignment for narco-terrorism.

=== Controversies ===
The facility has frequently been criticized for its harsh living conditions, including a 2019 week-long power outage during a polar vortex and systemic staffing shortages. Under the [[Pam Bondi]] Department of Justice, significant funding has been allocated to modernize the facility's surveillance and safety infrastructure.

=== See also ===
* [[The Capture of Nicolás Maduro]]
* [[Federal Arraignment of Nicolás Maduro]]
* [[Southern District of New York (SDNY)]]