An armed security guard at a federal building in Manhattan that houses ICE and FBI offices sexually assaulted a man who was seeking asylum protection last May, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Jimmy Solano-Arias, 42, admitted as part of a plea deal reached in Manhattan federal court that after offering to help the man with his asylum paperwork, he instead led him to a locked second-floor office at 26 Federal Plaza, and demanded oral sex.
When the victim resisted, Solano-Arias put his hand on his holstered firearm, making the victim fear for his life, court papers say.
The victim immediately reported the sexual assault to law enforcement and Solano-Arias was arrested the next day after lying to FBI agents, including by “falsely claiming that the sexual act was consensual when it was not,” prosecutors said.
The Bronx resident, who is currently out on bail, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
When Solano-Arias is sentenced in July, guidelines call for him to spend around five years in prison, though the final call will be up to the judge.
He could have faced a significantly longer sentence had the case gone to trial, but the plea deal allows for a conviction without the victim having to testify.
Solano-Arias had worked for a private security company guarding the government building, which is across the street from the federal courthouse in downtown Manhattan.
The building houses offices for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, and currently the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, the same office prosecuting Solano-Arias.
“Jimmy Solano-Arias abused the trust and privileges bestowed on him as an armed security officer at a federal building,” US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
“Instead of working to keep the many federal employees and visitors at 26 Federal Plaza safe, Solano-Arias exploited his position of authority to sexually abuse an individual seeking asylum protection in the United States,” the prosecutor added.