BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: A former Brooklyn jail guard, who had nicknamed his penis "horse" and was convicted of sexually abusing multiple female inmates, will spend more than two decades behind bars.

Eugenio Perez, 49, was a federal correctional officer with the rank of lieutenant employed by the United States Bureau of Prisons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn when he sexually abused five female inmates, according to a July 31 press release by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Between January 2013 and September 2016, Perez was accused of using his power as an officer at the MDC to engage in sexual acts and contact with the victims, who were under his supervisory and disciplinary authority.

In January 2017, he was arrested after all his victims gave corroborating statements regarding Perez's distinctive genitals, which they said he had nicknamed "horse."

Federal agents obtained a warrant that allowed them to verify those claims.

During a two-week jury trial in May 2018, the victims, identified in his indictment as Jane Doe #1 through Jane Doe #5, took to the stand to testify against the 49-year-old.

"He wasn’t circumcised," one said, speaking about his penis at his trial. "It was big, and it was like a hook…It was humongous and it curved."

Another said it had a "really strong smell" that made her want to throw up.

They also testified that Perez had lured them into isolated locations, used physical force and intimidation to compel them to engage in sexual acts with him, including oral sex, and used his authority over them to ensure that they did not report the abuse.

The jury subsequently convicted Perez of six counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law, four counts of aggravated sexual abuse, five counts of sexual abuse in a federal prison, six counts of sexual abuse of a ward, one count of attempted sexual abuse by a jail ward, and one count of abusive sexual contact

His victims once again delivered powerful testimonies during his sentencing hearing on July 31 at the US District Court in Brooklyn which saw Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto moved to tears.

"Thank you so much for coming forward and speaking your truth," Matsumoto told Jane Doe #3. "You were heard by the jury."

Perez, who has continued to maintain his innocence, cried in court and begged for leniency. "I ask for mercy, not just for me but for my family," he said.

While Matsumoto declined to hand down the maximum possible life behind bars, she did sentence him to 25 years in prison. As a part of the sentence, she also ordered him to register as a sex offender.

Speaking after the sentencing, United States Attorney Richard Donoghue said, "While serving as a Lieutenant at the MDC, the defendant used force, fear, and intimidation to violate his sworn duty and the civil rights of multiple female inmates in his custody through repeated sexual abuse of his victims."

"Today’s sentence appropriately reflects the gravity and seriousness of the defendant’s crimes, and demonstrates our steadfast commitment to hold accountable correctional officers who abuse their positions of authority."

Perez has announced his intention to appeal the sentence.

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