A former Metropolitan Correctional Center officer allegedly forced female inmates to perform sexual acts on each other as he watched, according to a federal lawsuit filed on Friday.
Colin Akparanta, 43, was found guilty of sexually assaulting inmates earlier in 2020, pleading guilty in March in Manhattan federal court to sexually abusing seven incarcerated women, according to the New York Post. Akparanta was also indicted over accusations that he had smuggled contraband to provide for his victims.
Karilie Herrera, who is among 14 inmates he has abused since he became a correctional officer in 2004, allegedly was forced to perform sexual acts on her cellmate as Akparanta would watch, according to her attorney, Jaehyun Oh.
Akparanta allegedly also threatened to put them in solitary confinement if they refused to submit to his demands or if they talked about them.
“I understand I have to pay for what I’ve done,” Herrera said. ” … as a result of justice being served, I was sent to prison for rehabilitation and instead I was exploited, tortured and traumatized.”
The filing said Akparanta had smuggled in gifts to inmate Carolyn Richardson after he told her he was a reverend and offered to guide her spiritually. He gave her Chinese food, Subway sandwiches, makeup, and other presents that are not allowed in the prison.
Akparanta allegedly visited her cell during late-night shifts several times a week, “abusing and assaulting her with increasing roughness,” the filing stated.
“I believe that anyone can agree with me when I say I have paid with more than my freedom for my crimes,” Richardson said.
Akparanta was fired in 2018 over allegations of misconduct. He is awaiting sentencing regarding his guilty plea to sexual abuse.
Akparanta’s lawyer Lance Clarke has not commented on the latest filing.
