A U.S. Secret Service agent and two other individuals have been arrested in Miami. They face charges related to violent fraternity hazing that resulted in severe injuries. The incident occurred in April and left two people hospitalized.
One of those charged is Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, who works at the Secret Service’s Miami field office. He is identified as a “dean of pledges” for Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity’s Miami chapter. The Secret Service has placed Pinder on administrative leave and is cooperating with the investigation. Pinder has been released on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on September 24.
Police uncovered evidence of prolonged beatings with canes and paddles, according to the Miami-Dade County state attorney’s office. The victims, a University of Miami graduate student and another young man, sustained injuries that were potentially life-threatening. One needed skin grafts and suffered kidney damage; the other required a breathing tube due to his injuries.
The charges include felony hazing with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, and attempted manslaughter. Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle emphasized that hazing is a crime in Florida, often resulting in severe consequences for victims.
Pinder has been with the Secret Service since 2023. Agency spokesperson Matt Fagiana confirmed this information, and Michael Townsend, the Miami field office special agent in charge, stated that any misconduct would be rectified following investigations.
No immediate comment was available from Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity headquarters. Pinder’s arrest warrant describes the hazing involving paddling, leading to emergency medical treatment for the victims. The incidents were reportedly part of a pledging process that included a requirement for correct answers about fraternity history.
The violence concluded on the fourth night when one victim’s injuries became evident through blood stains. Both victims were ordered to dispose of their clothes and faced continued health issues, with one requiring hospitalization and skin grafts. The law in Florida allows for hazing to be a felony offense, punishable by up to five years in prison, if resulting in serious injury or death.
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