James Loubeau, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by 20 months of supervised release for sexually assaulting another service member at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. The incident occurred in May 2019, and Loubeau, aged 37 from Miami, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact in April 2025.
Loubeau admitted that on May 4, 2019, he assaulted the victim on base at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. He was discharged from the Air Force in March 2020. The charges were brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which allows U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by individuals who served with the armed forces but are no longer subject to military prosecution.
The events unfolded when Loubeau and the victim met at a bar on the base where the victim consumed several alcoholic drinks. A friend later accompanied her back to her housing and helped her prepare for bed before leaving. Around 2:30 a.m., she awoke to find Loubeau on top of her. She immediately called two friends to report she had been raped. Surveillance footage showed Loubeau leaving her room to return to his dormitory. A medical examination confirmed injuries consistent with sexual contact, and DNA testing linked Loubeau to the assault.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Matthew R. Galeotti from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent Michael Koellner of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 512; and Special Agent Brett D. Skiles of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting this case.
Further court documents can be accessed through the District Court for Southern District of Florida’s website or via PACER under case number 24-cr-20454.
