Federal correctional officer Colin Akparanta, 42, of Irvington, New Jersey, is behind bars himself today—accused of years of sexual predation inside Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. Prosecutors unsealed a nine-count indictment charging Akparanta with four counts of sexual abuse of a ward, four counts of abusive sexual contact, and one count of deprivation of civil rights. The crimes allegedly spanned from late 2012 to April 2018, during which Akparanta exploited his authority over four female inmates at the federal lockup.
Akparanta, employed at the MCC since 2004, used his position to force or manipulate inmates into sexual acts, authorities say. According to the indictment, he digitally penetrated victims, groped their breasts and genitalia, and made them touch his penis over his clothing. He didn’t just violate bodies—he weaponized contraband. He smuggled in makeup, hygiene items, and food, then dangled them like bribes in exchange for sexual compliance. One woman was explicitly told: perform, or go without.
Worse still, Akparanta allegedly sought to extend his reach beyond prison walls—pressuring inmates for their contact information so he could pursue them after release. The Metropolitan Correctional Center, a high-security facility meant to uphold federal justice, became his hunting ground. For years, he operated in plain sight, shielded by the uniform meant to enforce the law, not break it.
“As alleged, Colin Akparanta was a predator in uniform,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. “Exploiting his position to sexually abuse multiple inmates over a several-year period.” Berman emphasized that no inmate should live in fear of their guards—and that Akparanta, at least, will never harm another behind bars. The case is now assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, with arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman in Manhattan federal court.
DOJ OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Guido Modano didn’t mince words: “Akparanta allegedly abused his power over female inmates.” His office, tasked with policing the Justice Department’s own, vowed to pursue every official who turns prison duty into sexual conquest. The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Pomerantz, Sarah Krissoff, and Rachael Doud from the Public Corruption, Violent and Organized Crime, and Civil Rights Units.
Colin Akparanta faces a maximum of 15 years on each count of sexual abuse of a ward, two years on each abusive sexual contact count, and 10 years for deprivation of civil rights—all penalties prescribed by Congress. But make no mistake: the indictment is not a conviction. Akparanta is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Anyone with information is urged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (866) 874-8900.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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