Two ex-NYPD officers pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges that they violated the civil rights of a Queens woman suspected of prostitution — with one officer stealing money from her purse and groping her nude body.
Federal prosecutors did not seek their detention, and the pair was freed without bond. They are subject to travel restrictions and must surrender their passports later this week.
According to prosecutors, Justin McMillan, 26, of Long Beach, and Justin Colon, 24, of Long Island City, responded in July 2024 to a 311 complaint about potential prostitution in a residential building off Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. During their investigation into the alleged brothel, they allegedly shut off their body-worn cameras and stole a key to the building entrance from a woman who had just exited after dumping her bag on the floor.
The cops, who were still on probation and in their second year of service, didn’t report that interaction — or the one that occurred eight hours later when the pair returned to the site, prosecutors alleged.
Around 4:50 a.m. on July 20, 2024, the officers unlocked the door and discovered a nude woman engaged with a male customer, who fled the scene.
McMillan then went into the woman’s purse and stole $200 from the woman, then approached her from behind and groped her bare buttocks and breast while Colon stood watch, charging papers say.
Video surveillance from outside captured the now-ex-officers of the 115th Precinct entering the building, as well as both the customer and the woman fleeing from the alleged brothel.
McMillan and Colon are each charged with a count of conspiracy against rights and a count of deprivation of rights under color of law for allegedly stealing during the incident, which took place at a residence on 89th Street near Roosevelt Avenue. McMillan faces an additional count of rights deprivation for groping the victim.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The third count against McMillan, whose parents are both former NYPD officers, has a 3-year maximum sentence.
The officers resigned in March 2025, according to an NYPD spokesperson. McMillan entered the academy in April 2023, followed by Colon in July 2023.
Both officers previously faced state charges in Queens, where they also pleaded not guilty. The cops were indicted for burglary, forcible touching and official misconduct. Due to issues with discovery in the case, the speedy trial clock ran out and the charges were dismissed in September 2025.
“I don’t believe there was an infirmity in that case, and there’s certainly not an infirmity in this case. The evidence is very strong [for] federal civil rights violations,” Assistant U.S. attorney Erin Reid said in court Tuesday.
She said the evidence includes video footage, witnesses and a 911 call.
Defense attorney Susan Kellman, who represented McMillan, presented a different take on the lapsed charges. “My guess is if they had a case, they would have brought it,” she said.
Attorney Michael Schneider of the Federal Defenders represented Colon. Neither attorney commented following Tuesday’s appearance.
U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr. said the officers will be “vigorously prosecuted because the community and their former colleagues in the NYPD deserve nothing less.”
“As alleged, the defendants’ response to a 311 complaint about prostitution on their beat was to commit multiple criminal acts that shock the conscience and violated the civil rights of a vulnerable victim,” Nocella said in a statement Tuesday.
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