Former prisoner transport officer Rogeric Hankins, 37, pleaded guilty in federal court in Missouri to violating a female detainee’s civil rights by sexually assaulting her, officials stated.
“This is a particularly heinous case as the defendant used his position and authority to commit his crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Bob Meacham of the FBI Minneapolis Field Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure those who violate the color of law will be held accountable, and the victim’s voices heard.”
According to the plea agreement, Hankins worked as a prisoner transport officer for Inmate Services Corporation at the time of the offense.
As a private prisoner transport officer, Hankins performed the government function of picking up individuals arrested on out-of-state warrants and transporting those individuals back to the jurisdictions that issued the warrants.
On March 31, 2020, Hankins picked up the victim, a female detainee, from a jail in Olympia, Washington, to transport her to St. Paul, Minnesota.
On April 3, 2020, Hankins stopped the transport van at a gas station in Joplin, Missouri before arriving in Minnesota.
Hankins brought the victim into the gas station to use the bathroom. After the victim used the women’s bathroom, Hankins led her into the men’s bathroom, and told her to go into the stall furthest from the door.
Once inside the stall, Hankins began to try to pull the victim’s shirt up. She resisted and told Hankins to stop.
In response, Hankins told the victim to be quiet and made her perform a sexual act on him. Hankins then further sexually assaulted the victim, while bending her over a toilet seat.
A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Hankins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
With assistance from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Minneapolis Field Division investigated the case.
Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.