Federal prison guard in Brooklyn gets 25 years for sexual abuse of five women

August 2, 2019 Rob Abruzzese

Eugenio Perez. Photo courtesy of U.S. Attorney's Office for the EDNY

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A prison guard from the Metropolitan Detention Center located in Sunset Park was sentenced Wednesday in Brooklyn Federal Court to 25 years in prison after he was found guilty on charges that included aggravated sexual abuse. In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender.

Eugenio Perez, a 49-year-old lieutenant at the MDC, was convicted after a two-week jury trial in front of Judge Kiyo Matsumoto. He was found guilty of six counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law, four counts of aggravated sexual abuse, five counts of sexual abuse in a federal prison, six counts of sexual abuse of a ward, one count of attempted sexual abuse of a ward, and one count of abusive sexual contact.

“While serving as a lieutenant at the MDC, the defendant used force, fear and intimidation to violate his sworn duty and the civil rights of multiple female inmates in his custody through repeated sexual abuse of his victims,” said Richard Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Perez was found guilty of abusing five women over a three-year period from January 2013 to September 2016. At his trial, all five women testified that Perez had lured them into isolated locations and forced them to engage in sexual acts.

Law enforcement officials testified that in addition to forcing the women to engage in oral sex, Perez would fondle, grope and penetrate them with his fingers all while threatening and verbally harassing them.

The prison guard was only busted after all five women gave statements in which they were able to identify distinct features of Perez’s penis, according to court documents. Jurors were required to look at the photos of his penis at trial.

“Perez abused his power and took advantage of female inmates under his control and supervision through manipulation and intimidation,” said Guido Modano, special agent-in-charge at the U.S. Department of Justice. “He betrayed his duty as an officer of the Department of Justice and used his position of authority to satisfy his own desires by victimizing inmates.”

Perez was arrested along with two other prison guards at MDC. Carlos Martinez was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse and other charges in January, but Federal Court Judge Edward Korman ordered a new trial after there were found to be inconsistencies in testimony at trial.