A U.S. Secret Service agent and two other men have been charged with felony hazing-related offenses after an alleged fraternity ritual in Miami left two individuals with severe injuries. Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, a Secret Service agent in the Miami field office, was arrested alongside Jared Lamar James, 26, and Elijah Delano Dyous, 29. The charges include hazing with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, and attempted manslaughter.
The incident occurred between April 1 and April 4, 2026, in Sweetwater, Florida, according to court records. Pinder, described as the "dean of pledges" for the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity's Miami chapter, allegedly participated in four hours-long hazing sessions involving prolonged beatings with canes and paddles. One victim required intubation and critical care to prevent renal failure and death, while the other suffered necrotic tissue on his buttocks, necessitating skin grafts.
Pinder has been placed on administrative leave and is reportedly cooperating with investigators. The University of Miami clarified that while one victim is a law student, the incident is not affiliated with the university or its fraternity chapter.
The alleged hazing sessions took place at two different residences, with one victim reportedly dismissed when he complained of urinating blood during the first session. The severity of the injuries led prosecutors to describe the ritual as potentially fatal if untreated.
The Miami-Dade County state attorney's office confirmed the charges, emphasizing the gravity of the victims' injuries. Pinder, who joined the Secret Service in 2023, is under house arrest with a GPS monitoring device.