Josh Duggar transferred to third prison facility within a year amid 12-year sentence
LISBON, OHIO: Convicted offender Josh Duggar has been transferred to a new federal prison facility as he continues serving his 12-year federal prison sentence for receiving and possessing illegal images involving minors.
Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate records show the former '19 Kids and Counting' star was recently moved from FTC Oklahoma City, a temporary federal transfer center, to FCI Elkton in Ohio. The transfer comes after a federal judge denied his latest appeal.
Josh Duggar transferred to FCI Elkton prison
Inmate records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) show Duggar was transferred from FTC Oklahoma City to FCI Elkton in Ohio. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson told Arkansas outlet KNWA/FOX24 that he arrived at Elkton on Wednesday, July 8.
The BOP describes FCI Elkton as "a low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent low security satellite prison."
The facility currently houses more than 2,000 inmates. FTC Oklahoma City, where Duggar was previously held, serves as a federal transfer center primarily for recently convicted inmates awaiting permanent prison assignments.
Before arriving in Oklahoma City, Duggar spent the first four years of his sentence at FCI Seagoville, located about 10 miles outside Dallas. In May, he was transferred to the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth for reasons that remain unclear.
When previously asked whether that move would be permanent or if another transfer was expected, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson declined to comment. His placement at FCI Elkton leaves him more than 850 miles away from his wife, Anna Duggar, and the rest of his family in northern Arkansas.
Josh Duggar appeal denied after prison transfer
The latest prison transfer comes about a month after a federal judge denied Duggar's appeal to vacate his 2021 conviction.
He was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for receiving and possessing illegal images involving minors and argued that his constitutional rights had been violated because his trial involved "complex constitutional and evidentiary issues" and "errors in the admission of forensic evidence."
District Judge Timothy L Brooks denied the appeal, ruling that Duggar had filed his motion too late. According to court records previously obtained by PEOPLE, a copy of the appeal was received by the Attorney's Office on July 29, 2025, more than a month after the filing deadline.
Duggar, a father of seven, had stated that while incarcerated he had "worked diligently to focus on education, personal growth, my faith, and to maintain strong family ties."
He initially appealed in October 2023, but the request was rejected that same month. He later took the case to the Supreme Court, where it was denied again a year later.
Duggar was arrested by Homeland Security in April 2021, sentenced in May 2022, and is currently scheduled for release in February 2033, according to prison records.
Following the arrest, Jinger Duggar addressed the situation only briefly. During an Instagram Stories "Ask Me Anything" session on April 29, she responded to a follower by writing, "Thanks for asking. It's been a heavy season that reopened old wounds."
She added, "I wanted to talk about these things on the pod, and at the same time it's honestly so hard to do," and concluded by adding, "I've been plugged in deep with my community here, not as active on socials, enjoying fun days with my little fam, and God is giving me help as I see brighter days ahead."
