Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that COLIN AKPARANTA, a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (“MCC”), which houses federal inmates in Manhattan, pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox to one count of abusive sexual contact of an inmate, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2244(a)(4), and one count of deprivation of the civil rights of that inmate, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242. In connection with the plea, AKPARANTA also admitted that he engaged in abusive sexual contact with six additional victims, and engaged in sexual acts with all seven of the victims.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As he has now admitted, Colin Akparanta abused his position of authority as a correctional officer at the MCC to sexually abuse at least seven inmates whose safety and security he was duty-bound to protect. This Office has prosecuted, and will continue to prosecute, correctional officers who use their positions to engage in criminal conduct, and I encourage anyone with knowledge of this or similar criminal conduct involving correctional officers at the MCC to contact my Office.”
According to the Indictment, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings, including AKPARANTA’s guilty plea hearing:
AKPARANTA has been employed as a correctional officer at the MCC since 2004.
Between in or about late 2012 and in or about April 2018, AKPARANTA used his official position to engage in sexual acts and contact with at least seven female inmates at the MCC while they were under AKPARANTA’s custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary authority. AKPARANTA digitally penetrated the victims’ vaginas and touched their breasts, buttocks, and/or genitalia. AKPARANTA also had some of the victims touch his penis over his pants. In addition, AKPARANTA smuggled contraband, including, but not limited to, personal hygiene items, makeup, and food into the MCC for some of the victims, and, with respect to at least one of the victims, explicitly conditioned his provision of contraband on the inmate’s continued performance of sexual acts with him. AKPARANTA also asked the victims for their contact information in order to reach them after their release.
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COLIN AKPARANTA, 43, of Irvington, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, and one count of deprivation of civil rights, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. AKPARANTA is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Lorna G. Schofield on July 8, 2020.
Any individuals who believe they have information concerning COLIN AKPARANTA or any criminal conduct involving correctional officers at the MCC should contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (866) 874-8900.
Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the DOJ Office of the Inspector General and the special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption, Violent and Organized Crime, and Civil Rights Units. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Pomerantz, Sarah Krissoff, and Rachael Doud are in charge of the prosecution.