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A current U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to the South Florida region has been charged in connection with a fraternity hazing investigation that unfolded across Miami-Dade County. Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, was taken into custody Sunday as part of the ongoing probe, which culminated in arrests announced over the weekend by Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Sweetwater Police Chief Sergio Diez.
Authorities also charged 26-year-old Jared Lamar James and 29-year-old Elijah Delano Dyous in the case. Online jail records showed James was arrested Friday, while Dyous had not appeared in custody records as of Monday morning. All three face two counts of attempted manslaughter with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm and hazing with a deadly weapon.
The Secret Service confirmed Pinder’s status and issued a statement noting he has been placed on administrative leave since the agency was notified of the investigation. The agency said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities and emphasized its commitment to holding employees accountable to the highest standards.
Investigators documented hazing incidents involving prolonged beatings with canes and paddles beginning April 1 at an apartment in Sweetwater and continuing through April 2 and 3 at the same location. On April 4, authorities said the abuse continued at a home in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, with victims allegedly struck for failing to answer fraternity-related questions correctly.
Fernandez Rundle highlighted the dangers of hazing, noting that since 2001 the practice has claimed the lives of Chad Meredith, Robert Champion and Andrew Coffey in Florida while causing serious injuries to many others. She stated that victims in the current case required hospitalization, underscoring the severity of the alleged conduct.
As of Monday morning, authorities had not publicly disclosed which university the three suspects were affiliated with or the specific fraternity involved in the investigation.
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