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By Shamim Chowdhury
Content Reporter
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A U.S. Border Patrol agent based in New York is facing serious charges after he allegedly coerced multiple women to expose their breasts under the guise of official duties.
Shane Millan, 53, was arrested on Thursday and is accused of violating the constitutional rights of four women by subjecting them to unlawful searches, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, Millan took advantage of his position by instructing three women to reveal their bare chests via webcam while he processed their entry applications into the United States.
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A fourth woman was reportedly ordered to expose her chest with her bra on. The incidents allegedly occurred in August 2023.
Prosecutors said Millan falsely claimed that this invasive act was a necessary part of the entry process, using it as a pretext for his own gratification.
"Maintaining the public's trust is vital to our mission. CBP does not tolerate misconduct within our ranks. When we discover any alleged or potential misconduct, we immediately refer it for investigation and cooperate fully with any criminal or administrative investigations. This is the case whether the alleged misconduct occurs on or off duty," a CBP spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Newsweek.
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Millan was arraigned on Thursday before a federal magistrate judge in Syracuse and has been released pending trial.
The federal public defender's office for Northern New York, which represented Millan during his arraignment, has yet to issue a public comment on the case.
It's not the first time a U.S. border agent has been accused of committing a crime this year. In June, a former U.S. customs officer was convicted of accepting bribes to let drug-filled vehicles into the U.S from Mexico.
Prosecutors said Leonard Darnell George worked for two separate criminal organizations and allowed at least 19 crossings between late 2021 to June 2022.
They said he gave traffickers a one-hour window to reach his lane at a San Diego border crossing and pocketed at least $13,000 per vehicle.
In April, a former border patrol agent from Phoenix was sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for charges related to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.
That agent, 56-year-old Carlos Victor Passapera Pinott, pleaded guilty in June 23, 2023.
In February, the second-highest-ranking official in the U.S. Border Patrol elected to retire amid allegations of misconduct. Joel Martinez, who was named acting deputy chief of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in January, was reportedly suspended before he announced his retirement, according to The Washington Post.
The Post reported that CBP officials declined to discuss details about alleged wrongdoing by Martinez due to privacy laws.
"When we discover any alleged or potential misconduct, we immediately refer it for investigation and cooperate fully with any criminal or administrative investigations," CBP spokesperson Erin Waters told the newspaper. "Federal privacy laws prohibit discussion of individual cases."
In the statement emailed to Newsweek, the CBP explained that "investigations are conducted thoroughly and with proper oversight, ensuring that appropriate action can be taken if and as needed, including working with law enforcement authorities."
"Consistent with our commitment to transparency, we make reports public whenever possible with legal and privacy constraints," the spokesperson said.
Update, 8/24/24 at 3:36 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from a CBP spokesperson.
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