Paulo Morales, Abusive Sexual Contact and Civil Rights, Florida 2011

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Indicted for Abusive Sexual Contact and Civil Rights Offenses

A shocking indictment has been handed down against Paulo Morales, a 47-year-old U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, for his alleged involvement in civil rights and abusive sexual contact offenses at the Miami International Airport in Florida.

According to the six-count indictment, Morales committed three felony counts of abusive sexual contact and three misdemeanor counts of deprivation of civil rights between January 2011.

The indictment alleges that Morales non-consensually groped the breasts of three separate women who were in the custody of Customs and Border Protection at the time of the incidents.

If convicted, Morales faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison for each count of abusive sexual contact and one year in prison for each count of deprivation of civil rights.

The case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William White of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Henry Leventis of the Civil Rights Division.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and Morales is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

January 2011 marked a disturbing time for the women who were victims of Morales' alleged abuse, and the indictment serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals, especially those in positions of authority.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/us-customs-and-border-protection-officer-indicted-miami-civil-rights-and-abusive-sexual