John Merrone pleaded guilty on July 15 in federal court in Brooklyn to all five counts of an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact involving the rape of a 21-year-old United States Merchant Marine Academy student cadet. The incident occurred while the cadet was working on a vessel under Merrone’s command. Merrone entered his plea after a jury was selected. He faces up to life in prison when sentenced.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Office, announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant today admitted abusing his authority as a ship captain to carry out a heinous sexual assault on a young woman, who was under his supervision, as she embarked on a career as a mariner,” said United States Attorney Nocella. “It is my hope that today’s guilty plea will give the survivor of this attack some measure of closure knowing that the defendant has been held accountable for his despicable conduct.”
Nocella also thanked the United States Coast Guard for its investigative work on the case.
“Former Captain John Merrone grossly violated his authority by drugging and raping a U.S. Merchant Marine cadet training aboard his ship. The FBI is dedicated to holding accountable those in trusted roles from heinously abusing the brave servicemembers protecting this country,” said FBI Assistant Director Barnacle.
According to court records, in September 2019 Jane Doe participated in the USMMA Sea Year Program aboard a commercial vessel traveling through the Atlantic Ocean toward Corpus Christi, Texas. On September 9, 2019, Merrone summoned Jane Doe and another female cadet to his stateroom for drinks; both consumed alcoholic beverages provided by Merrone and subsequently lost recollection of events that evening. Jane Doe awoke with physical symptoms consistent with intoxication and suspected non-consensual sex had occurred. She later reported details about her experience upon returning to shore and formally reported it to law enforcement in 2021.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla Bensing and Rachel Bennek from the Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section.