DENVER — A former police officer, dismissed from his role as an investigator at the U.S. Center for SafeSport after being accused of stealing seized drug money, is facing new charges related to rape and sex trafficking.
Jason Krasley, previously serving in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody on Friday and is charged with felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude for incidents purportedly occurring during his tenure on the police force from 2011 to 2015, according to a release from local district attorneys.
After leaving the police department in 2021, Krasley began working for the SafeSport Center, which subsequently terminated his employment last year when it was revealed he had been arrested for allegedly misappropriating $5,500 from a drug seizure operation that he had participated in.
This latest arrest raises concerns about how Krasley successfully navigated the supposed thorough vetting process used by the SafeSport Center to recruit individuals responsible for handling delicate issues surrounding sexual abuse cases.
Founded in 2017, the Denver-based center aims to address sexual abuse issues within Olympic sports across all levels, including grassroots organizations. By the end of last year, the center had employed 36 investigators, many of whom were sourced from police departments where they had experience managing analogous cases.
SafeSport’s CEO, Ju’Riese Colon, expressed dismay over the serious allegations against Krasley in a statement. “I am appalled that a former staff member has been accused of such heinous acts in his previous role as a police officer,” she remarked. “We hold all staff to the highest standard because safeguarding athletes is our utmost priority.”
Reports indicate that Krasley was involved in handling two specific cases, with one being reassigned following his arrest connected to the theft charges. In a separate instance, a claimant sought to reopen her case in light of the latest allegations and was informed by a SafeSport representative that the matters were already under review before the media scrutiny arose.
To address the situation, Colon announced that the center has initiated a third-party audit to assess the cases that Krasley had managed. “We are working with subject matter experts to determine what additional actions should be taken in light of the new allegations,” she added.
In addition to the rape and sex trafficking charges, Krasley also faces accusations of felony kidnapping, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, witness intimidation, and misdemeanor criminal coercion.
Krasley’s attorney, James Burke, has stated that his client “absolutely denies the allegations,” although he has not responded to further inquiries.
Now 47 years old, Krasley is also implicated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed last year by two Allentown police officers, which claims there was widespread misconduct within the department.
Another Allentown officer, Kevin Weaver, was arrested concurrently on charges of felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude, and he has since been placed on administrative leave.
