Immigration Agent Wilfredo Vazquez Charged with Sexual Abuse

The United States Attorney's Office in Miami announced the arrest of an US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer today. Wilfredo Vazquez is being charged with "knowingly causing" a woman detainee in his charge to perform a sexual act. He now faces life in prison if convicted.

On September 21, 2007, Vazquez was given the duty to transport a detainee from the Krome Service and Processing Center to the Broward Transition Center. According to the compliant filed by the victim, Vazquez removed her restraints and sat the victim in the back of the van being used to transport her to the Broward Center to await her deportation to Jamaica. While seating the victim in the back of the van, Vazquez allegedly told her that if she were a "good girl" he would move her to the front seat after they left the Krome facility.

A short time after leaving Krome, Vazquez is accusing of pulling over and moving the victim to the front seat. He then allegedly allowed her to use his cell phone, and then requested that she show him her underwear. According to authorities, she refused, but then Vazquez informed her that he wanted oral sex. He drove the victim to his house in Tamarac, Florida.

The victim claims that Vazquez forced her to perform oral sex on him and then have sexual intercourse. She said that she did not resist as he was wearing his gun the entire time.

After the rape, the victim was again seated in the front seat of the van, and Vazquez kept her there until he stopped at a gas station. There he moved her to the back seat. They arrived at the Broward Transition Center two hours after the Krome Center.

During the investigation, the victim correctly described the route to Vazquez's home. She also accurately described both the exterior and interior of the Vazquez home.

During questioning, Vazquez denied making any stops other than the gas station while transporting the victim. However, toll road transponder records from the van Vazquez was driving showed that he exited the Florida Turnpike onto a road that was near his home.

Vazquez is being charged with three counts of violating United States code Title 18, or more specifically aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual abuse of a ward. Vazquez was arrested Friday afternoon, and appeared in court today. If charged on all three counts, Vazquez could face life imprisonment for his crimes.

Steven J. Mocsary, the Special Agent in charge of the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said in the USAO press release, "ICE takes employee misconduct very seriously. All allegations of misconduct are investigated thoroughly and swift corrective action is taken when appropriate."

Source: The United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida