Customs officer guilty of using gun, badge to sexually assault women in Chicago suburbs

Key Points:

• Luis Uribe, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, was convicted by a jury of sexually assaulting multiple women, many of whom were sex workers, in Chicago suburbs in 2022, rejecting his claim of being framed by a Chinese prostitution ring.
• The jury found Uribe guilty on 10 counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, with sentencing scheduled for January 21 and a mandatory minimum prison term of seven years.
• Prosecutors emphasized that sex workers can be credible victims and highlighted the emotional testimony of the women, contrasting it with Uribe's dismissive and inappropriate remarks during the trial.
• Uribe admitted to having consensual sex with some women but denied any rape, even making a "rape joke" on the stand, which his defense attorney acknowledged as "horrible" but argued did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The case represents a significant victory for Chicago’s U.S. attorney’s office, which had faced criticism in other prosecutions, and underscores the principle that all victims deserve due process regardless of their background or occupation.