Harris County agents investigate FBI after female deputies alleged sexual assault – Houston Public Media

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Jacquelyn Aluotto (center) with two of three female MPs accusing Harris County law enforcement officials of sexual misconduct. Taken on May 24, 2021.

The FBI is investigating the Harris County District 1 Constable’s Office after four current and former female deputies charged their superiors with sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in May, according to an attorney representing the women.

Lawyer Cordt Akers confirmed Thursday that the women were in “full cooperation with the federal authorities” to investigate “the horrific misconduct of the District 1 anti-trafficking unit”.

“The serious nature of these crimes deserves serious attention, and we are pleased that this conduct is no longer uncontrolled,” Akers said in a statement.

Three female deputies, as well as a human trafficking lawyer, filed a lawsuit in May against Constable Alan Rosen, Deputy Chief Chris Gore, Lt. Shane Rigdon and Harris County. Another lawmaker joined the lawsuit in June with similar allegations.

The lawsuit alleges that the female MPs, who had no prior training in undercover operations, were chosen to participate in what are known as “bachelor party stings” – undercover operations allegedly created by Gore. which involved women posing as sex workers and male MPs posing as buyers.

These operations were said to have been created to combat human trafficking, but quickly became an “alcohol-fueled playground for sexual exploitation”, where women were allegedly harassed and sexually assaulted by their colleagues, including Gore and Rigdon, according to the lawsuit.

Court documents indicate that Jacquelyn Aluotto, a human trafficking activist who worked with the police station, was fired one day after reporting the alleged misconduct to the internal affairs office at One Police Station.

Constable Rosen, meanwhile, said in a statement in May that the ministry’s internal affairs unit had already investigated the allegations, “although no one has made a formal complaint.” This investigation did not reveal any violations, Rosen said.

“This trial is an effort to attack the good reputation of the hard-working men and women of the police station’s gendarme office,” the statement said.

An FBI spokesperson declined to say whether federal investigators were investigating the case. Additionally, Rosen’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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