U.S. Coast Guard Charges Another Crowley Officer With Sexual Misconduct.
New York, NY
By: MLAA
On October 23, 2022 MLAA reported the U.S. Coast Guard had filed Suspension & Revocation charges alleging shipboard sexual misconduct against a mariner who was employed by Crowley Maritime Corporation at the time the alleged sexual misconduct occurred.
According to allegations contained in the Coast Guard’s complaint filed on September 8, 2022, while serving as the 1st Engineer aboard a vessel operated by Crowley, the Coast Guard accused Aaron T. Jandreau of sexually harassing a cadet who was also serving aboard the Crowley vessel as well as sexually assaulting a cadet on at least one occasion in violation of 18 USC 2244(b).
In a previously unreported Suspension & Revocation complaint obtained by MLAA, the Coast Guard has also charged a 2nd officer employed by Crowley Maritime Corporation with sexual misconduct.
In the complaint filed on July 8, 2022, the Coast Guard has accused Matthew J. 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 Complaint alleges 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 alleges 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 alleges 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 alleges 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 vessel Thomas was assigned to 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.”
That unprecedented labor action against former AMO member John Merrone followed a report by CNN that the Coast Guard had brought Suspension & Revocation charges seeking the permanent REVOCATION of Captain John Merrone’s merchant mariner’s license after two cadets accused Merrone of drugging them, attempting to sexually assault one cadet, and then raping the second cadet aboard Captain Merrone’s vessel while sailing upon the high seas.
In its Complaint against Thomas, the Coast Guard has also sought the permanent REVOCATION of Thomas’ merchant mariner’s license and credential.
MLAA has made a records request to the Coast Guard seeking Thomas’ formal response to the allegations leveled against him by the Coast Guard, but MLAA has not yet received the records.
This story will be updated when the mariner’s responses to the allegations are obtained.