Former Border Patrol Agent Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Shane Millan, age 53, of Jefferson County New York, pled guilty today in federal court in Syracuse to two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Vance Kuhner, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, New York, NY, made the announcement.

In pleading guilty today, Millan admitted that, while acting under color of law as a Border Patrol Agent, he willfully deprived multiple victims of their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches when, during virtual processing concerning their admission to the United States, he commanded the victims to expose their bare chests to him via webcam. Millan further admitted that he told these women that his requests were for legitimate searches incident to admission into the United States, but he knew his demands to see the victims’ breasts were for his own gratification.

Millan is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025, by United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks. At sentencing, he faces up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $200,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility Investigative Operations Directorate is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case.