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MCC Staff Akparanta Pled To Sex Abuse Of Prisoners Now One Describes Nightmares

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive, video

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 4– When Colin Akparanta was brought in shackles, accused of sexually abusing female prisoners under his control in the Metropolitan Correctional Center prison, into the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York's Magistrates Court on May 21, 2019 his wife had been waiting for him for hours. Inner City Press was there and has followed the case since, since this exclusive report.

On February 21 the US Attorney's Office wrote to SDNY District Judge Lorna G. Schofield about a plea deal.  On March 4 Akparanta formally pleaded guilty, getting a deal of 37 to 46 months and undefined restitution to seven victims. But he was allowed to plead guilty regarding only one of the seven victims.

  Now on December 4, in advance of the repeatedly postponed sentencing set for December 8, victims' letters have been filed.

  One, from an inmate in the MCC from March 2018 to August 2019, says how Akparanta exposed himself, gave a yeast infection, leading to panic attacks, nightmares and cold sweats. 37 to 46 months? Watch this site.

 

 Now as a public service Inner City Press reports the sentencing date is requested to be moved from July to September, even amid mounting concern about law enforcement abuse: "Re: USA v. Colin Akparanta, 19 Cr. 363 (LGS) Dear Judge Schofield: We represent Colin Akparanta, who is scheduled to be sentenced July 2, 2020. Our sentencing memorandum is due to be filed on or before June 8. Mr. Akparanta is released on a secured bond and residing with his family in New Jersey. Due to the current pandemic and the need for us effectively represent Mr. Akparanta, we respectfully request an adjournment of sentence and sentencing submissions. We suggest a sentencing date in mid September. The government does not object to this request." Inner City Press will stay on the case.

   Back on May 21 the government argued for a curfew, saying that Akparanta is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Nigeria to which he retains strong ties. He didn't try to flee when first questioned - but it seems he thought he was under investigation only for bringing contraband into the MCC for female prisoners, not for the sex acts he traded the contraband and control for.

 The unsealed indictment in USA v. Akparanta lists as his nicknames or aliases "Africa" and "Akon." (A commenter on Inner City Press' thread about the arraignment noted that the singer Akon is not, in fact, from Nigeria - but neither is Africa a country.)

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