DENVER (AP) – Jason Krasley, a former police officer from Allentown, Pennsylvania, has been arrested again, this time facing severe charges of felony rape and sex trafficking. This arrest occurred on Friday, as per a news release from the district attorney's office, which highlighted that the alleged crimes took place during his tenure at the police department from 2011 to 2015.
Krasley was previously employed at the U.S. Center for SafeSport, where he served as an investigator until his termination in 2022. His firing came in the wake of allegations that he stole $5,500 from a drug bust he participated in as a police officer. This incident raised concerns about how a person with such a history could have navigated through what the SafeSport Center describes as a robust vetting process aimed at hiring individuals capable of handling sensitive information related to sexual abuse cases.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established in 2017 to address sexual abuse cases within Olympic sports, addressing issues from elite athletes to grassroots participants. The Denver-based organization has an investigation team of 36 people, some of whom are sourced from police departments with experience in similar types of investigations.
Ju'Riese Colon, the CEO of SafeSport, expressed her dismay regarding the allegations against Krasley. In an email to The Associated Press, she stated, “I am appalled that a former staff member has been accused of such heinous acts in his previous role as a police officer. We hold all staff to the highest standard because safeguarding athletes is our utmost priority.”
Following Krasley's recent arrest, questions have arisen regarding the two cases he previously handled. In one case, another investigator took over after Krasley's arrest for theft. The second case involved a claimant seeking to reopen her case, to which a SafeSport employee replied that the matters were already under review before the recent requests and media attention emerged.
In light of the new allegations, SafeSport has commissioned a third-party audit concerning the cases Krasley managed. Colon confirmed, “We are working with subject matter experts to determine what additional actions should be taken in light of the new allegations.”
In addition to the charges of felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude, Krasley is also facing multiple other charges, including felony kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and intimidation of a witness, along with misdemeanor criminal coercion. His attorney, James Burke, stated that Krasley “absolutely denies the allegations.” Burke did not respond to any further inquiries from the Associated Press.
Krasley, now 47 years old, is also mentioned in a whistleblower lawsuit filed last year, which involves two Allentown officers alleging widespread misconduct within the police department. Interestingly, another officer from Allentown, Kevin Weaver, has also been arrested and charged with similar offenses, having been placed on administrative leave as investigations unfold.
