A federal indictment has been handed down against a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer accused of exploiting his position of authority to commit a series of violent crimes against four women at suburban Chicago hotels during 2022.
Luis Urbie, 44, faces multiple federal charges stemming from six separate incidents that occurred between February and October of last year at hotels in Schaumburg and Naperville. At the time of the alleged offenses, Urbie served as an armed CBP officer and immigration official assigned to O’Hare International Airport.
The indictment details a disturbing pattern of criminal conduct. Prosecutors allege that Urbie forced his way into hotel rooms where the victims were staying and either sexually assaulted them, robbed them, or both. According to court documents, he wielded his service weapon, displayed his official credentials, and invoked the authority of his federal position to compel victims to perform sex acts or surrender money.
All four victims were of Chinese descent, according to federal prosecutors.
The first documented incident occurred between February 5 and February 23, 2022, when a woman traveling to the area stayed at a Schaumburg hotel. Prosecutors state the victim heard a knock at her door, after which Urbie allegedly forced entry and informed her that she needed to cooperate with him. He then pushed her head onto the bed and attempted to perform oral sex on her.
The victim pleaded with Urbie to stop and offered him money to leave, which he accepted, according to the indictment. As he departed, prosecutors say he pointed a gun at the victim and ordered her not to look at him.
A second incident took place between February 6 and February 27 at a Naperville hotel. The victim in this case worked in the sex industry, prosecutors noted.
The charges represent a profound breach of public trust. Federal law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve, and they are granted extraordinary powers under the law. When those powers are allegedly abused in such a manner, it strikes at the foundation of lawful authority and the public’s confidence in those who wear the badge.
The case also raises questions about oversight and accountability within federal agencies. How an armed officer with access to vulnerable populations could allegedly commit multiple offenses over an eight-month period without detection warrants serious examination.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details have not been released at this time. Urbie is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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