August 13th 2024.
A shocking case has emerged at New York's Rikers Island Prison, where a retired corrections officer has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting 24 former female inmates. According to The Gothamist, this disturbing revelation came to light after New York's Adult Survivors Act opened a one-year window for civil lawsuits to be filed regarding sexual abuse cases where the statutes of limitations had expired. As a result, more than 20 jail staff members have been repeatedly named in these suits, with one officer in particular, known only by the nickname "Champagne," being identified in a staggering 24 lawsuits.
What makes this case even more disturbing is that the alleged assailant has been labeled as a ghost, as there is no record of anyone by that name working at Rikers during the time of the reported assaults. This has left investigators scrambling to uncover the true identity of this individual, who has been accused of raping, groping, and forcibly kissing dozens of women in their cells or secluded areas of the women's jail known as the Rose M. Singer Center.
One former prisoner, Lisa, bravely came forward with her story, claiming that Champagne repeatedly raped her in a part of the jail used to store recreational equipment. At the young age of 22, Lisa was facing a six-month sentence for a drug distribution charge when a judge told her she may be able to go home early. However, the guard known as Champagne threatened to take that chance away if she did not comply with his demands. Lisa recalled, "Going to prison was very, very, very scary at a young age. Those 60 days meant everything to me. I wanted to go home."
But instead of being released early, Lisa was allegedly forced to have intercourse and perform oral sex on Champagne, which resulted in her becoming pregnant. Tragically, she experienced a miscarriage in the prison bathroom and when she returned to Rikers after being treated at a local hospital, no one questioned how she became pregnant in an all-women's jail.
As authorities delved into the numerous lawsuits, they were able to uncover the possible identity of Champagne. After discovering the surname of "Fant" and combing through personnel records, payroll, and social media accounts, they found only one guard with that last name working at Rosie's during the time of the alleged assaults. Correction Officer Keith Fant was then identified as the potential assailant, and he confirmed that he was known as "Champagne" due to his "bubbly personality."
However, four former inmates, including Lisa, do not remember him as such. They identified him as their attacker, and 14 of the 24 women who filed suits also listed Fant as their assailant. Despite this, Fant vehemently denies these accusations, claiming that the women are lying and just want money. "I know that's a lot of people and I know it raises eyebrows, but I have not touched anybody inside Rosie's," the retired officer, who earns a $45,000 per year pension, stated. "The only thing I can think of is maybe they're trying to get some money."
Attorney Adam Slater, who represents several women accusing Fant of rape or sexual abuse, revealed that most of his clients never even knew the real name of their alleged predator. He also believes that other officers who worked at Rikers in the 1990s and 2000s were aware of Champagne's behavior but chose to turn a blind eye. "Incredibly, we represent 18 different women from all different walks of life that have come forward and essentially told us the same story about him," Slater said. "Unfortunately, this particular case is just one example of what was going on there. This was going on rampantly and openly. Guards really were in on it. They would look out for each other. It was just an entire culture that allowed these women to be sexually abused and raped for a very long time."
Two other victims, Karen Klines and Tasha Beasley Carter, have filed lawsuits against New York City for a combined $40 million in damages. However, the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association president, Benny Boscio, maintains that the organization "100% stands behind the retired officer." This is a troubling situation, and it is likely that only a small fraction of the sexual abuse lawsuits against Rikers will result in city-funded payouts. This case serves as a stark reminder of the horrifying realities that can occur within the prison system, and it is imperative that justice is served for all of the victims involved.
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