A former Illinois Department of Agriculture investigator is set to swap his badge for prison stripes after being sentenced to one year behind bars for the sexual groping of multiple women while on duty and perjury. Jose Guillen, 43, from Melrose Park, Illinois, copped to obstruction of justice after his sleazy on-the-job behavior came under scrutiny.
In his role, Guillen had the power to easily shut down any of the animal care facilities he was tasked with inspecting. The disgraced official used this power as leverage, sexually harassing female facility operators. However, his disgraceful act didn't go unchecked as his victims had the courage to come forward and expose his misdeeds. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, on Wednesday, Guillen admitted to "intentionally touch[ed] [the victim’s] buttocks for purposes of his own sexual gratification" and acknowledged lying about his conduct during official proceedings.
Further shedding light on the case, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu and Diane MacArthur described Guillen's actions as unconsented and predatory in their sentencing memorandum. "None of these women consented to the defendant’s lecherous advances," they argued forcefully. U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow issued the sentence after Guillen pleaded guilty last year, according to the same press release.
Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr. led the announcement of the sentencing. The government prosecutors condemned Guillen's actions, arguing that only when confronted by a brave cohort of accusers was he forced to drastically change course and “accept responsibility for his serial wrongdoing by pleading guilty.”
This comes as a vindication for the victims who mustered up the courage to step forward against Guillen's abuses, ultimately leading to his downfall.
