Armed Security Guard At Manhattan Federal Building Sentenced To Five Years In Prison In Connection With Sexual Assault Of Asylum Seeker

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JIMMY SOLANO-ARIAS, a former armed security guard at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building located at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, was sentenced today to five years in prison by Judge Paul G. Gardephe in connection with SOLANO-ARIAS's sexual assault of an asylum seeker (the "Victim") on May 4, 2023. On April 10, 2024, SOLANO-ARIAS pled guilty to lying to federal law enforcement agents following his sexual abuse of the Victim. The sentencing today followed SOLANO-ARIAS's guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "Jimmy Solano-Arias used his position as an armed security officer at a federal building to sexually assault a vulnerable asylum seeker. In so doing, Solano-Arias abused a person he was charged with protecting, and then lied to cover up his crime. Today's sentencing demonstrates that those who exploit their position of public trust will be held accountable for their conduct."

According to the Indictment, Superseding Information, other public court documents, and statements made during court proceedings:

On May 4, 2023, SOLANO-ARIAS was employed as a security guard by a company that contracts with the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security to provide armed security services at 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York. On that date, SOLANO-ARIAS was on duty, wore a black and gray security guard uniform, and carried his employer-issued firearm.

Early in the morning on May 4, 2023, the Victim went to 26 Federal Plaza for the purpose of submitting an asylum application. Once there, SOLANO-ARIAS offered to assist the Victim with his asylum paperwork. Instead of providing assistance, however, SOLANO-ARIAS led the Victim through non-public areas of 26 Federal Plaza, eventually secluding the Victim in a locked office on the second floor. Inside the locked office, SOLANO-ARIAS demanded that the Victim perform oral sex on SOLANO-ARIAS. When the Victim attempted to resist SOLANO-ARIAS's demands, SOLANO-ARIAS reached to the company-issued firearm on his person. Fearing that SOLANO-ARIAS would harm the Victim, the Victim performed oral sex on SOLANO-ARIAS, which caused physical pain and injury to the Victim. Following the assault, when the Victim was able to leave the office, the Victim immediately reported the sexual assault to law enforcement.

The following morning, when SOLANO-ARIAS arrived at 26 Federal Plaza for his shift, law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") approached SOLANO-ARIAS and asked to speak with him. SOLANO-ARIAS agreed to speak with the federal agents. During the interview that followed, SOLANO-ARIAS lied to the federal agents about his sexual abuse of the Victim, initially disclaiming entirely that he had engaged in a sexual act with the Victim and then falsely claiming that the sexual act was consensual when it was not. SOLANO-ARIAS was arrested after the interview.

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In addition to the prison term, SOLANO-ARIAS, 45, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office's Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Espinosa and Mitzi Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.

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