A U.S. attorney has filed sexual misconduct charges against New York Police Department Detective Oscar Sandino, a 13-year NYPD veteran assigned to the Queens North Narcotics Bureau from June 2006 until March 2008, according to the FBI.

Sandino was arrested Tuesday and faces three misdemeanor counts that could bring a three-year jail term. He was removed from active duty in March 2008.

"This prosecution affirms our commitment to vigorously protect the constitutional right of individuals to be free from sexual misconduct by officers whose duty it is to uphold the law," Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The complaint cites three separate incidents in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

During the summer of 2006, in connection with the arrest of a drug dealer, Sandino coerced a female cousin of the drug dealer to engage in sex acts with him based on threats he made concerning the lengthy prison sentence faced by the drug dealer.

In February 2008, Sandino arrested a woman and her boyfriend on drug distribution charges following the execution of a search warrant at their apartment. During the arrest, Sandino forced the victim to undress in front of him in the bedroom of the apartment.

At the precinct, Sandino told the victim that she was going to jail and would lose her children unless she had sex with him. When the victim went to the restroom at the precinct, Sandino followed her inside and made her perform oral sex.

Upon the victim's release from custody, Sandino told her that he expected her to have sex with him at a later time and called the victim on numerous occasions. The victim subsequently reported Sandino's misconduct to NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau, which began an investigation.

In September 2009, Sandino allegedly engaged in lewd sexual behavior in front of a female arrestee and then forced her to raise her shirt to expose her upper body.

"I want to commend the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau for its important work in uncovering police misconduct and in bringing to justice those who dishonor themselves and the department," according to NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly.