Customs Officers Allegedly Hazed Colleagues on 'Rape Table'

Three Customs and Border Protection officers stationed at Newark Liberty International Airport were arrested on Wednesday on charges of assault and intimidation.

Among the allegations, the officers would restrain colleagues against a private conference room table they called the "rape table."

The three officers, Tito Catota, 38, of Newark; Michael A. Papagni, 32, of West Orange; and Parmenio I. Perez, 40, of Paterson, New Jersey are charged with forcibly assaulting, impeding, intimidating and interfering with fellow CBP officers. The complaint identifies two victims, both male, as "Victim One" and "Victim Two."

[CALLOUT]

"The defendants, who were members of a unit responsible for identifying dangerous contraband and threats to national security, allegedly subjected their own colleagues to senseless physical abuse while on duty at Newark Liberty International Airport," said William E. Fitzpatrick, Acting U.S. Attorney in a press release.

"This behavior would be abhorrent in any environment, especially one serving a critical law enforcement function. The hard-working men and women who protect our borders deserve better."

The complaint alleges that while Catota, Perez, and Papagni were employed as CBP officers at Newark Liberty International Airport, they were assigned to a specialized unit known as the Passenger Enforcement Rover Team (PERT). PERT was tasked with identifying and intercepting passengers attempting to bring contraband into the United States or those who might be associated with terrorist activities.

According to the complaint, Victim One, who was assigned to PERT in October 2016 was allegedly told by Papagni that the table in the PERT office-located on the second floor of Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport-was known as the "rape table." Papagani then threatened he would get the victim on the table.

In January, while Victim One was scanning a CBP document, Papagni allegedly warned him that he had five minutes to get out of the office or Papagni would teach him "what this team is about."

According to the report, Papagni, Catota and another unidentified officer allegedly grabbed Victim One's arms and legs shortly thereafter and threw him on top of the PERT office table. While they held him down, Perez reportedly got on top of Victim One's midsection and grinded against his genitals in a simulated sex act.

Victim Two, who was not assigned to PERT, went to the PERT office to speak with a CBP officer when an identified man locked one of the office doors. Victim Two allegedly walked towards another office door when Catota, Papagni, and Perez grabbed him and threw him on his side on the table. Similar to Victim One, Victim Two was held down by two officers while a third simulated a sex act against him.

"DHS employees pledge to maintain the highest standards of conduct and the OIG ensures those employees are held accountable when they violate that obligation," said Special Agent in Charge Mark Tasky of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, New York Resident Office.

"DHS OIG takes very seriously allegations such as those in today's complaint and works tirelessly to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation."

Although the arrests were made this week, the Department of Homeland Security has been investigating the allegations since NBC 4 New York's I-Team broke the story this past May.

According to the original report, the abuse has been happening for years. One female officer, identified as Diana Cifuentes claimed that a colleague chased her and taped her to a chair using green customs tape. She said the harassment escalated to the point where a fellow officer pulled his gun on her.

At the time, CBP told NBC 4 News it was "investigating" the allegations.

"We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we cooperate fully with all criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, whether it occurs on or off duty," said CBP at the time.

The three officers interviewed by NBC were ultimately moved out of Liberty Airport for their own safety. It is unknown if the victims in the current police report are the same people which NBC interviewed in May.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, New York Resident Office-under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark Tasky and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, New York Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Vance Kuhner-with the investigation leading to this week's arrests.

He also reminds readers that the "charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty."

If found guilty, the attackers face a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore