How to Send Money to Someone at USP Big Sandy (MoneyGram step-by-step)
Sending commissary money to someone at USP Big Sandy through MoneyGram? The details you enter matter more than you'd think. Most problems come from sending too early or formatting the register number wrong. Here's how to get it right the first time.
Don't send MoneyGram funds until the person has physically arrived at a BOP facility. If they're still in transit, the money can get stuck - their account details may not be active yet, and the payment won't route correctly.
The "Account Number" field isn't just the register number. You need to enter the eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by their last name - all as one continuous string. For example: 12345678DOE. This exact format is what routes the payment to the right person.
Watch out: The BOP Inmate Locator shows register numbers with a dash (#####-###). For MoneyGram, drop the dash. Use all eight digits, then add the last name directly after - no spaces (example: 12345678DOE).
- ✓ Receive Code: 7932
- ✓ Company Name: Federal Bureau of Prisons
- ✓ City & State: Washington, DC
- ✓ Beneficiary: the inmate’s full committed name
Good news: MoneyGram payments to the BOP are processed seven days a week, including holidays. Need to get money on the books over a weekend or federal holiday? Processing doesn't pause.
- Send between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST - funds are typically posted to the inmate account within 2–4 hours.
- Send after 9:00 p.m. EST - funds are posted at 7:00 a.m. EST the following morning.
Common Mistakes
- ✓ Using the dashed register number format - the locator may show #####-###, but for MoneyGram you need the eight digits with no dash, then the last name (example: 12345678DOE).
- ✓ Misspelling the last name in the account number - copy the inmate’s last name carefully, since it must be attached to the eight-digit number with no spaces.
- ✓ Sending before the inmate arrives - wait until they’ve physically arrived at a BOP facility before you submit the payment.
Money not showing up? First, double-check your MoneyGram receipt and the exact "Account Number" string you entered. Then consider timing: payments sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST usually post within 2–4 hours. Anything sent after 9:00 p.m. EST posts at 7:00 a.m. the next morning.
- Pull your MoneyGram transaction details - have your receipt/confirmation in front of you and verify the account number format you used.
- Contact the BOP Central Office if you still can’t resolve it - Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20534; phone (202) 307-3198.
- Plan for response time if you write or email - the Bureau processes emails like written correspondence, and a response may take about 20–30 working days.
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