A federal jury in Chicago is deliberating the case of Luis Uribe, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent accused of serial sexual assault and robbery of Chinese sex workers. The trial, held at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, centers on accusations that Uribe used his badge and firearm to coerce and sexually assault multiple women in hotel rooms during 2022.

Uribe, 45, faces charges including deprivation of rights under color of law and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, with prosecutors seeking a potential life sentence upon conviction. Over the course of the week-long trial, four women testified that Uribe, posing as law enforcement, assaulted them and took their money. The alleged victims consistently identified Uribe as their attacker, recounting how he leveraged his official status and weapon to intimidate them.

In his defense, Uribe, who took the stand earlier this week, denied all allegations of rape and robbery, asserting the encounters were consensual. He claimed the women sought to frame him following his refusal to assist them with immigration matters. Uribe testified that he began engaging with prostitutes around 2019, admitting to relationships involving paid sex but denying any violent or criminal behavior. He described one meeting in March 2022 where he alleged he was offered a bribe in exchange for helping with immigration concerns, which he rejected.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Shih, in closing arguments, characterized Uribe as “a rapist in a police uniform,” emphasizing the victims’ courage and direct testimony. Shih dismissed defense claims of a conspiracy to frame Uribe as “100% insane,” noting that sex traffickers prioritize money and avoid involving law enforcement in extortion plots.

Conversely, Uribe’s attorney Michael Clancy questioned the credibility of the accusers, arguing that prostitutes are often skilled at deception and that no physical evidence substantiated claims of rape or robbery. Clancy pointed to the absence of cameras or additional witnesses in the hotel rooms and highlighted that DNA and phone records only confirm the agent’s presence, not criminal conduct. He urged the jury to focus on whom they found more believable.

The jury, composed of six men and six women, deliberated for over three hours on Wednesday without reaching a verdict, with discussions set to resume Thursday morning. The case has drawn attention to the abuse of power by a purported law enforcement official and raised questions regarding the vulnerability of immigrant sex workers in the Chicago area.