The U.S. Federal Court held a trial on Wednesday (September 9th) for a case involving American Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who were accused of armed robbery and sexual assault against four Chinese women.
According to the report from Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday, 45-year-old CBP officer Luis Uribe was charged with using his service weapon and badge in six different instances in the suburbs of Chicago in 2022 to coerce four Chinese victims into having sexual relations with him or providing them with cash. One of the victims was attacked three times.
The case was heard in the courtroom of U.S. Federal District Judge Jorge Alonso. During the trial, prosecutors and defense presented starkly different arguments regarding the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Shih stated that Uribe, stationed at O’Hare Airport, committed six counts of assault, robbery, and sexual assault in Schaumburg and Naperville from February to October 2022.
Shih described that in one of the incidents, Uribe allegedly forcibly entered a hotel room, displayed a badge with an eagle emblem, pulled out a black handgun, and coerced women into sexual acts or handing over money. One of the victims expressed fear and disgust, while another feared being killed to silence her.
Prosecutors stated that Uribe’s actions caused significant panic in the local Chinese community, with some individuals circulating his photo to raise awareness among residents.
On March 23, 2022, a sex worker met him at the Chinese restaurant “Royal Buffet” in Hoffman Estates, and tried to negotiate for him to stop harming other women in exchange for free services, capturing a photo as evidence.
However, according to the prosecution, Uribe continued his criminal activities despite the negotiations.
As evidence in the case, investigators found DNA on hotel bedsheets, toll road records, and Google Maps search history all pointing to Uribe being in or near the crime scenes.
Uribe has been charged with 10 counts of “deprivation of rights under color of law” and one count of “using a firearm to intimidate during a violent crime.”
He has been in custody since his arrest on December 9, 2025. If convicted, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of at least 7 years, up to life imprisonment.
Defense attorney Michael Clancy argued in court that it was an “insult” for the prosecutors to label those Chinese women as members of the “Chinese community.”
Clancy claimed that the women identified as victims were actually part of a prostitution ring controlled by a boss in China, rather than ordinary residents of the Chinese community.
He mentioned that around 2020 to 2021, Uribe had frequented a sex worker who turned out to be a local head of a prostitution ring in Chicago, with another boss in China controlling the entire operation.
Clancy emphasized that Uribe’s “fatal mistake” was disclosing his Homeland Security employment, making him a “perfect target” for the prostitution ring. He described these women as fraudsters and prostitutes, setting up a scheme against Uribe.
The defense lawyer stressed that while Uribe may be “flawed” and “weak,” some of his actions brought shame to his family and the country, but there was no evidence proving his involvement in robbery and rape.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that Customs and Border Protection takes allegations of misconduct by employees seriously and is committed to ensuring that staff adhere to the highest standards of integrity.
The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks, with the four victims and relevant witnesses set to testify. The jury has not reached a verdict yet.