Government will pay $4.1 million for DEA mea culpa

Daniel Chong was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Agency in April 2012 during a drug raid, placed in a DEA office holding cell and then forgotten about. For four days Chong, 23, sat in a small windowless 5' x 10' cell, forced to drink his own urine to quench thirst. When it became apparent to him that no one would save him, he reportedly wrote a farewell message to his mother using his own blood.

When officials finally opened Chong's cell door after days, the Associated Press reports that they found him severely dehydrated and covered in his own feces. He was hospitalized for five days for kidney failure, cramps and a perforated esophagus.

For his ordeal, the Justice Department announced today that it would be paying out a $4.1 million settlement to Mr. Chong. What's curious, however, is that there has been no disciplinary action taken for those responsible for the 2012 incident, Chong's attorney says.