In a case that has stunned New Yorkers, two NYPD officers, Justin McMillan and Justin Colon, face charges of burglary and forcible touching after an alleged incident at a Queens brothel in July 2024. The officers, both probationary members of the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights, were indicted for their actions on Roosevelt Avenue, a hotspot in the city’s crackdown on illegal sex work. The legal proceedings have begun, with their latest hearing shedding light on the troubling accusations.
The incident unfolded on July 19, 2024, when McMillan, 27, and Colon, 24, responded to a 311 call reporting prostitution at a residential building. Prosecutors allege the officers turned off their body cameras, stating “I don’t see anything,” before lingering outside and taking a key from a woman exiting the premises. Eight hours later, still in uniform, they returned, unlocked the building, and entered a darkened room where a sex worker was with a client. After the client fled, McMillan allegedly stole cash from the woman’s purse and groped her breast and buttocks. She escaped and called 911, triggering an investigation by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and the Queens District Attorney’s Public Corruption Bureau.
Both officers surrendered on March 31, 2025, and were arraigned in Queens Supreme Court before Justice Jessica Earle-Gargan on an eight-count indictment. The charges include second- and third-degree burglary, forcible touching, petit larceny, and four counts of official misconduct—crimes that could land them up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. During the hearing, McMillan and Colon pleaded not guilty. The courtroom was tense as prosecutors detailed how the officers allegedly abused their authority, with Assistant District Attorney Christine Oliveri emphasizing the deliberate disabling of body cameras to conceal their actions.
The officers were released on their own recognizance, with no bail set, though they were ordered to surrender their passports. McMillan’s attorney, Michael Cibella, argued his client denies the allegations and intends to fight the charges, noting McMillan’s roots in Atlantic Beach, where he lives with his parents—both retired NYPD officers. Colon’s lawyer, meanwhile, unsuccessfully contested the passport restriction, citing a planned trip to the Dominican Republic. Justice Earle-Gargan scheduled their next court appearance for April 28, 2025, ensuring the case will remain under scrutiny as evidence is prepared.
The hearing underscored a betrayal of public trust, with Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz calling the allegations “an affront to the shield” worn by honest officers. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch echoed this, vowing accountability for any officer who violates their oath. The officers, who joined the force in 2023, were placed on modified duty in August 2024 and are now suspended without pay.
Roosevelt Avenue’s reputation as a hub for illicit activity adds context to the scandal, occurring during a broader NYPD operation that has shuttered dozens of brothels. Yet, this case flips the script, with the accused being the very officers tasked with enforcement. As the April 28 hearing looms, the public watches closely, questioning police integrity and the systems meant to uphold it.
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