|
| Former Ice Officer Pleads Guilty | April 3, 2008 |
| Prosecutors Recommend 87 Month Sentence Earlier today former ICE officer Wilfredo Vazquez pleaded guilty to knowingly engaging in a sexual act with FIAC’s client, MC, who was in ICE custody at the time, and to knowingly threatening her and placing her in fear. Vasquez took MC to his home on September 21, 2007 and was charged with raping her after picking her up at Krome to transport her to the Broward Transitional Center (BTC). Vasquez was arrested in mid- November of last year and was denied bond. His trial was scheduled to begin on March 31st. He repeatedly denied having sex with MC when interviewed by government agents. After learning about the plea deal, MC told FIAC that she’s very grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and DHS investigators. She told Cheryl Little, FIAC’s Executive Director, “This has been such a dreadful experience. At first I just wanted to give up and go home. I didn’t want to think about what happened to me and I was scared the Officer would try to hurt me. I was also worried about what all this would do to my family. But I decided to testify during the trial because I wanted to make sure this officer is punished and won’t be able to rape and hurt anyone else.” “Justice has finally been served,” said Cheryl Little. “Hopefully this will send a message to other officers that they will be held accountable for their actions. Women in immigration custody are particularly vulnerable to this kind of abuse. We fear that far too often women who are sexually abused by officers are transferred to remote facilities or deported and cannot complain.” Kelleen Corrigan, a FIAC attorney who is assisting MC to apply for a U Visa said, “I know of no one more deserving of a U Visa. I have witnessed the extent of her suffering because of the rape and there were times when she could barely communicate with me because she was so traumatized.” U visas are given to victims of severe crimes who have been helpful in a criminal investigation. | |