A U.S. Customs and Border Control Protection Officer has pleaded guilty to groping three women who were in his custody.
Paulo Morales, 47, admitted in federal court that he committed three civil right offenses by groping the women. He admitted to the offenses in a plea hearing.
In January of 2011, Morales groped the breasts of three women that were in his custody in a sexual assault while he was working as an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport.
"A law enforcement badge is a privilege; we will not tolerate its misuse as a key to assert power or unlawful force over those in one's custody," said Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Professional Responsibility special agent David D'Amato as quoted by NBC Miami.
"This former Customs and Border Protection Officer misused his office and his power to sexually assault three women in his custody at Miami International Airport, in violation of their civil rights. My office and the Department of Justice are fully committed to protecting the civil rights of our citizens from all types of abuses," U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said in a statement.
Morales was charged with a six-count indictment or three felony county of abusive sexual contact and three misdemeanor counts of deprivation of civil rights. He is set to be sentenced on Oct. 26. He faces up to three years in jail and a $300,000 fine.
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