Former Ship Captain Pleads Guilty to Drugging, Raping U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Cadet at Sea

A former U.S. merchant ship captain has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the drugging and sexual assault of a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadet aboard a commercial vessel, bringing one of the maritime industry’s most closely watched criminal cases to a close ahead of trial.

John Merrone pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Brooklyn to all five counts of an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact. He entered the plea after a jury had already been selected for trial.

When sentenced, Merrone faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.