Border Patrol Agent Charged with Civil Rights Violations

Press Release

Shane Millan Required Several Women to Expose their Breasts to Him While Virtually Processing their Admission to the United States

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Shane Millan, age 53, of Jefferson County, New York, was arrested today on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Vance Kuhner, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, New York, NY, made the announcement.

The misdemeanor information alleges that Millan, while acting under color of law as a Border Patrol Agent, willfully deprived four different victims of their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches when, during virtual processing concerning their admission to the United States, he commanded three women to expose their bare chests to him over webcam and a fourth woman to expose her breasts to him while her bra remained on. The information further alleges that Millan told the women that these were legitimate searches incident to admission into the United States, though Millan's demands to see the victims' breasts were for his own gratification.

Millan was arraigned today in Syracuse, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks and released pending a trial.

The charges in the information are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility Investigative Operations Directorate is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case.

Updated August 22, 2024