Halifax police charge CBSA employee with sexual assault, extortion

A Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) employee is facing several charges, including sexual assault, said Halifax Regional Police.

Police said the charges stem from incidents that occurred in 2003, when the accused was an immigration officer.

On Nov. 24, 2014, the woman, 26 at the time, told police she had been assaulted and threatened with extortion years earlier. She was scheduled to be deported in June 2003.

She said the man used his position to sexually assault and extort her in Dartmouth on more than one occasion that year.

“Historic cases like this are challenging but obviously they can come to the point where a person is charged, like in this case, and we commend this victim for coming forward because it’s not easy,” said HRP spokesperson Const. Dianne Woodworth.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Historic cases like this are challenging but obviously they can come to the point where a person is charged, like in this case, and we commend this victim for coming forward because it's not easy," said HRP spokesperson Const. Dianne Woodworth.

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Woodworth also said the charges of extortion and breach of trust are connected to the sexual assault charge due to the fact that “he was in a position of power over the 26-year-old victim.”

Investigators arrested 55-year-old Carie Dexter Willis in Montreal on April 1. He was transported back to Halifax.

Willis faces charges of extortion, sexual assault and breach of trust.

Willis appeared in Dartmouth provincial court on Monday and was released. He has another court date scheduled for April 9.

In an emailed statement to Global News, CBSA confirms Willis is still an employee with the organization.

“The CBSA can confirm the individual charged is a CBSA employee and the Agency is fully co-operating with law enforcement,” the statement reads.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The CBSA can confirm the individual charged is a CBSA employee and the Agency is fully co-operating with law enforcement," the statement reads.

“Any employee who violates the strict standards of conduct may face disciplinary action up to and including termination.”

The CBSA adds that the charges are against “a single CBSA employee” and doesn’t compromise the rest of the organization.

HRP said the information wasn’t released to the public before his April 4 court appearance to protect the investigation.