Luis Uribe, a Customs and Border Protection agent who was stationed at O'Hare Airport, denied allegations that he used his law enforcement authority during the encounters. Prosecutors have alleged that Uribe brandished his badge and service weapon during the attacks, but Uribe testified that he was never armed when he met with the women. Some of the alleged incidents occurred while he was on paid time off.
Uribe is accused of abusing his law enforcement position to sexually assault and rob four Chinese nationals, all of whom are alleged sex workers.
According to prosecutors, the incidents occurred on six separate occasions between February and October 2022 in hotel rooms in Schaumburg and Naperville.
"I never hit any women in my life," Uribe told 14 jurors. "It was always consensual," he said.
The defense argued that the women were attempting to exploit Uribe because of his immigration enforcement job. Defense attorneys said that during a lunch meeting, when a photograph of Uribe was taken, one of the women allegedly offered him $7,000 and "free sex" if he could help bring their boss and several other sex workers from China to the United States.
Prosecutors disputed that claim, contending the meeting involved an alleged victim asking Uribe to stop attacking and robbing sex workers in exchange for free services.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Shih challenged Uribe during his testimony, telling him, "You were hiding your true self from your family just like you're hiding yourself from this jury."
If convicted, Uribe faces up to life in prison.
Both sides are scheduled to return to court Wednesday morning.