Corruption Allegations Emerge Against DEA Agents in Graphic Group Chat Scandal
- A group of DEA agents was found to be sharing inappropriate jokes and images in a WhatsApp chat, including references to sexual conquests and 'forcible anal rape.'
- The chats, dubbed a 'world debauchery tour,' have raised serious questions about the conduct of federal law enforcement officials.
- This incident highlights ongoing issues related to professionalism and accountability within law enforcement agencies.
Recent revelations from a trove of secret law enforcement documents obtained by the Associated Press (AP) have unveiled a troubling culture of corruption among federal narcotics agents, particularly within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The documents detail a graphic group chat among agents, which has led to serious accusations, including a case of sexual assault involving agent Zoumberos. A woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, recounted her experience, stating she clearly communicated her unwillingness to engage in sexual activity. Irizarry, another agent implicated in the scandal, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for laundering money for Colombian drug cartels. He has claimed that he is not a rogue agent and has called for accountability among his peers who participated in the misconduct. While Irizarry is the only agent willing to discuss the group chat, internal records indicate that at least a dozen other agents faced disciplinary actions for their involvement or for failing to report the misconduct. The allegations against Zoumberos stem from an incident in April 2018 in Spain, where he is accused of sexual assault after a dinner with an informant. Following his arrest, Zoumberos resigned from the DEA, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. The woman involved in the case has expressed her desire to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, indicating her willingness to cooperate with the FBI's investigation into the DEA's misconduct.