Two New York City police officers have been accused of stealing a brothel key before robbing and groping a sex worker at a Queens brothel they were assigned to investigate.
Initial state charges were dismissed against the officers, but federal prosecutors indicted patrol officers Justin McMillan and Justin Colon on Tuesday. They’re now facing felony conspiracy against rights and willfully depriving an individual of her constitutional rights in connection with the July 2024 incident, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York's office announced.
Prosecutors say the two men were responding to a report of prostitution inside a Queens building. Upon entering, they shut off their body cameras, approached a woman leaving the building, and took a key to the residence from her as well as cash from her purse.
The officers returned eight hours later, unlocked the door and found a woman having sex with a man, who immediately fled, prosecutors allege.
McMillan, 26, of Long Island, then stole about $200 from the woman’s purse and groped her while Colon, 24, of Queens, kept watch.
The woman ran away and eventually called 911, prosecutors said. The officers, meanwhile, returned to their station house without reporting the incident.
McMillan and Colon were initially charged in state court last March with burglary, forcible touching and official misconduct, but a judge dismissed the case and sealed the prosecution in December after the Queens District Attorney's office failed to meet the court's speedy trial rules.
Both men were suspended after their arrests and have since resigned from the department, police have said. They're due to be arraigned later Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court. Their lawyers didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
“The alleged actions taken by Justin McMillan and Justin Colon are despicable and a complete violation of the public's trust in the NYPD,” said Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
