A former federal correctional officer pleaded guilty today to sexually abusing multiple inmates in Fort Worth, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
Luis Curiel, 47, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of sexual abuse of a ward.
“Curiel abused his authority as a correctional officer and sexually abused several inmates under his supervision. Sexual abuse of inmates is never tolerated, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who engage in this kind of conduct,” said Cloey C. Pierce, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Dallas Field Office.
According to plea papers, Mr. Curiel, a former Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officer at the Carswell Federal Medical Center, admitted to sexually abusing at least three inmates, identified in court documents as B.B.M., M.C., and N.R.
In October 2021, Mr. Curiel admitted, he met one inmate by a staff elevator and engaged in sexual acts with her in a nearby stairwell. That same month, he engaged in sexual acts with two more inmates outside the same staff elevator. At the time, all three victims were in official detention and under his custodial, supervisory, or disciplinary authority.
FMC Carswell is an administrative security federal prison that serves female inmates with specialized medical and mental health needs.
Mr. Curiel now faces up to 30 years in federal prison (15 years per count). His sentencing has been set for Sept. 8.
The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the full cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem is prosecuting the case.