NEWARK -- Three Customs and Border Protection officers at Newark airport are now facing charges that they hazed their colleagues with attacks that authorities say subjected the workers to "senseless physical abuse."

Officers Tito Catota, 38, of Lyndhurst, Parmenio I. Perez, 40, of Hawthorne, and Michael A. Papagni, 32, of Staten Island, New York, were arrested Wednesday morning on charges they forcibly assaulted and intimidated two of their colleagues, acting U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick announced in a release.

The men attacked two fellow customs officers on top of what they referred to as a "rape table" in an office inside Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport, authorities said.

In one instance, authorities allege Papagni, Catota, and others held one victim down on the table, while Perez was grinding his genitals up and down the victim's body. In another, authorities said the three men held a second victim down on the table while rubbing up and down against his leg.

The men and their alleged victims remained clothed during the incidents, authorities said.

"The defendants, who were members of a unit responsible for identifying dangerous contraband and threats to national security, allegedly subjected their own colleagues to senseless physical abuse, all while on duty at Newark Liberty International Airport," Fitzpatrick said in the release.

"This behavior would be abhorrent in any environment, especially one serving a critical law enforcement function. The hard working men and women who protect our borders deserve better."

Authorities began investigating the abuse allegations earlier this year, after several officers spoke out about them in a WNBC News report. The alleged victims said the abuse had been going on for years.

Mark Tasky, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General in New York, said in the release the office is conducting a thorough investigation of the alleged attacks.

"DHS employees pledge to maintain the highest standards of conduct and the OIG ensures those employees are held accountable when they violate that obligation," he said.

If Papagni, Cotota, and Perez are found guilty, each of the two counts they face could cost them up to eight years in prison, and $250,000 in fines, officials said. The three appeared in Newark federal court Wednesday afternoon, with Catota and Perez released on $100,000 unsecured bond, and Papagni released on $100,000 bond, authorities said.

Editor's Note: This post has been updated to reflect corrected information from the Attorney General's office.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.