Crowley Officer Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Active Duty Navy Sailors While Intoxicated Receives 12 Month Suspension From Coast Guard Chief ALJ Judge

New York, NY

By: MLAA

Despite public outrage and unprecedented Congressional legislative action following the bombshell Midshipman-X maritime sexual abuse revelations, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard’s allegedly-corrupt Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Court System have persisted in adhering to their longstanding policy of leniency towards mariners accused of sexual assault.

In a Settlement Agreement approved by Chief ALJ Judge Walter Brudzinski on January 26, 2023, Crowley Maritime 3rd Mate Matthew Justin Thomas agreed to a 12 month outright suspension of his Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) in exchange for the Coast Guard dropping its Suspension & Revocation action agains Thomas, which concerned allegations that Thomas sexually assaulted two women while acting under the authority of his Coast Guard-issued MMC.

In the Coast Guard’s complaint filed on July 8, 2022, the Coast Guard accused Thomas of sexually assaulting two active duty U.S. Navy sailors while serving as 3rd Mate aboard a vessel owned by Military Sealift Command and operated by Crowley Maritime Corporation’s Crowley Government Services subsidiary. 

     The Coast Guard’s Complaint alleged that while on shore leave at a naval base in Japan, Thomas “sexually assaulted two active duty Navy Petty Officers by inappropriately touching them on the buttocks, while on shore leave…”

    The Complaint alleged that, on the same evening while on shore leave, Thomas “intentionally slapped” the buttocks of one active duty Navy Petty Officer and “intentionally groped” the buttocks of the second Petty Officer.

    The Complaint alleged that both acts were without the permission of the sailors, that both acts were intended to “abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade…and/or arouse or gratify [Thomas’] sexual desire…,” and that both acts constituted “abusive sexual contact” in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2244(b).

    The Complaint also alleged that on the morning following the two alleged sexual assaults, Thomas “failed to awaken, failed to muster, and was observed by the Master as having a strong odor of alcohol upon his breath.” The Coast Guard’s Complaint also accuses Thomas of being under the influence of alcohol aboard the vessel in “Violation of Law or Regulation.” 

    According to the website of the American Maritime Officers (AMO) labor union, AMO represented and still represents all licensed officers aboard the USNS Victorious, the vessel Thomas was working aboard when the alleged acts of misconduct occurred. 

Accused serial rapist Captain John Merrone was also represented by AMO until October 12, 2022 when, as MLAA reported, Merrone was kicked out of the American Maritime Officers labor union by the union’s National Executive Board, which cited “multiple credible allegations…made against John Merrone ashore and while he was aboard vessels under AMO contract.”

In response to the Coast Guard’s Complaint, Matthew Justin Thomas, through his attorney, denied the Coast Guard’s allegations.

In preparation for the S&R hearing, the Coast Guard notified the ALJ Court of its intention to call at least six witnesses, including the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Special Agent who investigated the alleged sexual assaults as crimes at a Naval base in Japan, both of Thomas’ alleged victims, the Captain of the USNS Victorious who administered Thomas’ breathalyzer test, and two Crowley employees based at Crowley’s headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida—specifically, Crowley’s “Crewing Administrator” and its “Fleet Port Captain.” 

By agreeing to the Settlement Agreement, both Thomas and the Coast Guard avoid a S&R hearing, and Thomas “neither admits nor denies the factual allegations in the Complaint.”

In addition to a 12 month outright suspension of his MMC, Thomas’ Settlement Agreement requires that Thomas complete a psychosexual rehabilitation program. Specifically, Thomas’ Settlement Agreement requires that Thomas:

“Agrees to undergo a psychosexual evaluation led by a qualified practitioner as defined by FL. Statute 948.001(9) or a similar federal or state equivalent…understands and agrees to disclose to the qualified practitioner the allegations listed in the complaint…agrees to provide to the Coast Guard Investigating Officer a copy of the evaluation report…agrees to sign a release allowing the qualified practitioner to provide to the IO a copy of any and all reports related to Respondent's treatment…agrees to subsequently enroll in the rehabilitation and/or treatment program recommended by the qualified practitioner…agrees to submit proof of enrollment in the rehabilitation education and/or treatment program to the IO…within one-week of enrollment…agrees to provide to the IO proof of completing the recommended rehabilitation education and/or treatment program…[and] Pay all expenses associated with completion [of the terms of the Settlement Agreement]. 

Unlike in the case of Captain John Merrone, the AMO labor union has not publicly announced any punishment against Thomas, who will be allowed to return to work aboard AMO-contract vessels after serving his 12 month suspension and completing his psychosexual rehabilitation program. 

After serving his 12 month suspension and completing his psychosexual rehabilitation program, Thomas will also regain his EMBARC-approved status under the U.S. Maritime Administration’s highly touted “Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture” shipboard safety program, and will be allowed to supervise cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and the State Maritime Academies.

Captain Mark Stinziano, who had his MMC suspended in 2022 for repeatedly assaulting a USMMA Deck Cadet, also remains EMBARC-approved, and as of March 2023 was directly supervising USMMA Cadets in his position of Chief Mate aboard the M/V Green Lake.

Crowley Maritime Corporation has been hit with several sexual assault scandals in recent months, including two ongoing federal sex trafficking lawsuits filed against the company by former female employees.

In another ongoing Crowley sexual misconduct scandal, the U.S. Coast Guard is seeking to revoke the license and MMC of Crowley 1st Engineer Aaron Thomas Jandreau, who is accused of sexually harassing a cadet aboard a Crowley vessel as well as sexually assaulting the cadet on at least one occasion in violation of 18 USC 2244(b).

In addition to sexually assaulting the cadet in the engine room, the Coast Guard’s complaint against Jandreau alleges the Crowley mariner “aggressively knock[ed] on the Cadet’s cabin door while undressed, unwelcomely exposing himself to the Cadet when the door was opened without permission.”

Like Mattthew Justin Thomas, Jandreau denied all of the allegations leveled against him by the Coast Guard.