NEW YORK CITY — Manhattan District Attorney announced the indictment of YMMACULA PIERRE, 30, a New York City police officer, for using a deceased individual’s credit card to purchase diamond jewelry. The defendant is charged in New York State Supreme Court with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Identity Theft, Attempted Grand Larceny, and Official Misconduct.
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, on July 14, 2014, PIERRE, while on duty as a uniformed patrol officer in the 6th Precinct in Manhattan, responded to a request for a wellness check at an apartment at 12 East 14th Street. Upon entry, the defendant discovered that the 65-year-old male resident of the apartment, who had been suffering from medical issues, had died. The defendant used the individual’s Samsung Galaxy phone to contact a relative. Pursuant to her official duties, PIERRE also vouchered some of the decedent’s property, including a Citibank MasterCard. However, two days later, the defendant allegedly used the credit card information to purchase a diamond ring valued at more than $3,200 from Zales, a jewelry retailer.
“Because police officers take an oath to protect and serve, they are held to a higher standard of behavior in the course of their duties,” said District Attorney Vance. “In this case, the defendant is accused of disgraceful conduct by using the credit card information of a dead man to buy expensive jewelry. No grieving relative should have to worry about alleged theft and misconduct by a uniformed officer in the aftermath of a loved one’s passing.”
The decedent’s relative was notified by the company of the possible credit card fraud, and alerted the vendor before the jewelry was delivered to the address allegedly specified by PIERRE, which was the home of an associate and personal reference the defendant listed in the defendant’s application to become an NYPD officer.
Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Leddy is handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Julio Cuevas, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, Assistant District Attorney Luke Rettler, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, and Executive Assistant District Attorney David Szuchman, Chief of the Investigation Division.
District Attorney Vance also thanked the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau for assistance with the investigation.
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
Defendant Information:
YMMACULA PIERRE, D.O.B. 10/09/84
Nassau, NY
Charged:
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count
- Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a class E felony, 1 count
- Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 1 count
- Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
