Bishop Anthony Jinwright, sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion, has left the Mecklenburg jail and is now in the custody of U.S. marshals.

According to the sheriff’s website, Jinwright left the jail on Friday, Feb. 4.

A spokesman with the Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to discuss Jinwright’s whereabouts because of “security concerns.” An inmate locator on the bureau’s website lists his status as “in transit,” with a release date of December 15, 2017.

The spokesman, Edmond Ross, said Jinwright would be traveling with other inmates under the protection of U.S. marshals and could take several days to reach his destination.

When placing a prisoner, Ross said, bureau officials consider several factors, including criminal history, current offenses, medical needs and prison population. The bureau also gives “due consideration” to judicial recommendations, he said.

“Our policy is to attempt to place all prisoners within a 500-mile radius of their release residence,” he said. “Now, that’s not always possible because of the population pressures we have within our prisons.”

Jinwright, 55, was convicted in May along with his wife, Harriet Jinwright. According to an IRS agent who testified, the couple failed to report more than $2.3 million in income between 1991 and 2008. Based on those calculations, the agent said, the couple failed to pay $1.4 million in state and federal taxes.

Anthony Jinwright was sentenced to eight years and nine months in federal prison plus three years probation. Harriet Jinwright was sentenced to six years and eight months plus three years probation.

The couple also must repay $1.2 million to the federal government.

Anthony Jinwright had been housed in the Mecklenburg jail since his conviction. Harriet Jinwright was ordered to report to prison in April.

The Jinwrights were co-pastors of Greater Salem Church in west Charlotte.

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