Arrests In Newark Airport 'Rape Table' Probe, Officer Hazing

Three U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly engaged in extreme hazing of male colleagues at Newark Liberty International Airport, including the use of a "rape table," the United States Attorney's Office announced.

Tito Catota, 38, of Lyndhurst, Parmenio I. Perez, 40, of Hawthorne and Michael A. Papagni, 32, of Staten Island, N.Y. were charged with assaulting two fellow officers at the airport, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

On Wednesday, each defendant appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court. Catota and Perez were released on $100,000 unsecured bond; Papagni was released on $100,000 bond secured by $75,000.

The three were charged with "forcibly assaulting, impeding, intimidating, and interfering" with two unidentified men while the victims were engaged in their duties as Customs and Border Protection officers, according to authorities.

"This behavior would be abhorrent in any environment, especially one serving a critical law enforcement function," Fitzpatrick said in the release. "Hard-working men and women who protect our borders deserve better."

According to the complaint, Catota, Perez and Papagni were employed as CBP officers at the airport and were assigned to the Passenger Enforcement Rover Team, or PERT, when the incidents happened.

PERT is a specialized unit on the second floor of Terminal C that is involved in the identification and interception of passengers attempting to bring contraband into the United States, or who might be associated with terrorist activities.

One of the victims was assigned to PERT in October 2016. Soon after his arrival, Papagni allegedly advised the man that the PERT office table was known as the “rape table” and threatened the victim that he would get him on it, according to the complaint.

Three months later, on Jan. 10, 2017, the victim was asked to retrieve and forward a document related to a prior drug seizure. While he and another individual were trying to scan the document, Papagni allegedly warned the officer that he had five minutes to get out of the office or Papagni would teach him “what this team is about,” according to the complaint.

Moments later, the lights were shut off in the PERT office. Papagni, Catota, and another unidentified officer then allegedly grabbed the victim's arms and legs and threw him on top of the "rape table," according to the complaint.

While Papagni, Catota, and the unnamed individual held the victim down, Perez got on top of the officer's midsection and grinded his body up and down against his genitals through the victim’s clothing in a motion simulating a sex act, according to the complaint.

The victim unsuccessfully attempted to push Perez off his body. When Perez eventually got off of the officer, Papagni and Catota released him, according to the complaint.

A similar situation was reported two months earlier by the other victim.

On Nov. 30, 2016, another unnamed officer locked one of the doors to the office, and the victim started to walk toward the other door, the complaint said.

Catota, Papagni and Perez then grabbed the officer and threw him on his side on the PERT office table, according to the complaint.

While two of the defendants held the victim down on top of the table, the other defendant got on top of him and moved his genitals up and down on the officer’s leg in simulation of a sex act, according to the complaint.

The victim struggled to get free until Catota, Papagni and Perez eventually released him, the complaint says.

While no clothing was removed during the hazing episodes, there were plenty of weird and sexually abusive elements, the accusing officers told NBC New York:

• The ritual allegedly involves the “grinding of genital areas” on the victims
• An officer allegedly mounted one of the new hires and “rode him like a horse”
• An officer alleged that the "Party Boy Song" from the MTV shock series “Jackass” played in the background during one hazing episode

Read more: Weird, Abusive Hazing Took Place At Newark Airport, Customs Officers Say

Both counts in the complaint carry a maximum potential penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“DHS employees pledge to maintain the highest standards of conduct and the OIG ensures those employees are held accountable when they violate that obligation,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Tasky, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, New York Resident Office. “DHS OIG takes very seriously allegations such as those in today’s complaint and works tirelessly to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.”