U.S. Secret Service Agent Arrested
A U.S. Secret Service agent has been arrested and charged with five felonies, including attempted manslaughter with a deadly weapon, implicated in a hazing incident that caused serious injuries to two individuals.
Marquez Pinder, 29, who works in the Miami field office, has been placed under house arrest with a GPS monitoring device.
According to an affidavit submitted to the Florida Circuit Court, Pinder served as the “pledge director” during a four-hour hazing ritual for the Miami chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. In this capacity, he allegedly participated in the hazing of two would-be members.
Records indicate that the victims were subjected to physical abuse, described as being “rowed” and beaten with canes by Pinder and two other fraternity members. One victim expressed concerns about “blood in the urine” during the initial hazing session, which were disregarded by the fraternity.
A few days later, the male victim required intubation at a hospital, receiving life-saving measures to avoid further health decline and possible death.
The other victim suffered severe injuries, including “blackened” and “necrotic” tissue from an impact to the buttocks. Medical records show that a substantial portion of his skin and soft tissue was surgically removed, followed by extensive skin grafting.
Law enforcement reported that both victims endured a series of stressful conditions during the hazing period from April 1 to April 4 at various locations in Miami-Dade County. They were quizzed about fraternity history, and failure to answer correctly resulted in being placed in “stress positions,” which involved a semi-squatting stance while being struck with a paddle. One victim recounted a warning about recognizing physical limits, which included signs like blood in the urine and faintness.
Investigators found messages among fraternity members discussing the need for cleaning supplies to manage sweat and blood during the hazing sessions. Following the four-day ordeal, one victim sought emergency medical attention due to a worsening condition, which included vomiting, fever, and significant pain.
Pinder is facing charges that include two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of attempted manslaughter with a deadly weapon, and one count of hazing involving a deadly weapon. Two others, Jared James and Elijah Deius, are also charged with related offenses.
An attorney purportedly representing Pinder has not responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, he has been associated with the Secret Service since September 2023 and was reportedly on vacation at the time of the incident.
The Special Agent in Charge for the agency’s Miami office stated that the Secret Service takes any allegations of criminal behavior seriously and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The organization asserts its commitment to accountability and professionalism, with assurances that any wrongdoing will be addressed appropriately once legal proceedings are concluded.
Kappa Alpha Psi, founded in 1911, bills itself as a “historic African American fraternity.” Although one of the victims is a law student at the University of Miami, the chapter involved is not affiliated with the university, as clarified by university communications.
A statement from the national fraternity emphasized its strict zero-tolerance policy regarding hazing.
