A former federal correctional officer who admitted to sexually abusing seven female inmates under his charge was sentenced Tuesday to 40 months in prison.
Colin Akparanta, 43, preyed on women at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan from 2012 to 2018, smuggling contraband into the facility to coerce his victims into performing sex acts, according to prosecutors.
“On one hand you have what is a heinous crime over a number of years,” said US District Judge Lorna Schofied. “But at the same time I hear and credit that you are a dedicated family person, that you care for your wife and your children.”
She added, “It is such a discordant picture,” before handing down the sentence, which was seven months less than the term requested by Assistant US Attorney Lara Pomerantz.
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment,” the prosecutor said. “He abused his position of authority for his own sexual gratification … over a period of several years.”
Akparanta, whose children listened in on the hearing, which was conducted via video, expressed remorse for his misconduct.
“Judge, I’m very sorry for what happened,” he said. “I can only say sorry … please, judge, forgive me.”
His defense lawyer Nicholas Kaizer had argued for a probation-only sentence in light of his client’s serious health conditions — including hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis, which would put him at increased risk if he contracted the coronavirus.
The attorney also noted that Akparanta’s status as an ex-guard will make his incarceration especially difficult. “No matter where he is in the BOP [Bureau of Prisons], someone will have known him, that’s going to impact him,” Kaizer said.
Akparanta, who started his career at the federal jail in 2004, pleaded guilty in March as part of a plea deal to one count each of abusive sexual contact and deprivation of civil rights related to a single victim.
Prosecutors allege that he brought contraband — including personal hygiene products, makeup and Subway sandwiches — into the jail to strongarm the women into cooperating with his sexual demands and to keep them quiet.
Two federal lawsuits representing six of his victims have been filed against him and his supervisors.
In the latest suit, victim Karilie Herrera said Akparanta had sexually assaulted her at least four times a week and forced another inmate to perform sex acts on her. If his victims resisted, he allegedly threatened to put them in solitary confinement, according to the filing.