NEW YORK — Multiple New York City Police Department officers have been arrested and charged for their alleged participation in a gambling and prostitution ring. The crooked cops reportedly ran the ring in Queens.
Seven officers from various ranks were arrested in the sting—along with multiple citizens.
The officers were identified as follows:
Cruz, Carlos
41 year-old male
NYPD Sergeant
Charge:
Enterprise Corruption
Failla, Louis
49 year-old male
NYPD Sergeant
Charges:
Official Misconduct (4 Counts)
Nieves, Cliff
37 year-old male
NYPD Sergeant
Charges:
Promoting Prostitution
Nieves, Steven
32 year-old male
NYPD Police Officer
Charges:
Promoting Prostitution
Raspanti, Giancarlo
43 year-old male
NYPD Police Officer
Charges:
Receiving Reward for Official Misconduct
Official Misconduct (2 counts)
Rojas-Acosta, Giovanny
40 year-old male
NYPD Detective
Charges:
Enterprise Corruption
Samaniego, Rene
43 year-old male
NYPD Detective
Charges:
Enterprise Corruption (2 counts)
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill released the following statement: “Today, those who swore an oath and then betrayed it have felt the consequences of that infidelity. The people of this Department are rightly held to the highest standard, and should they fail to meet it, the penalty will be swift and severe. I thank Deputy Commissioner Joseph Reznick for the thorough investigation performed by the Internal Affairs Bureau, in partnership with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, in rooting out this illicit activity. His unit initiated this probe and in doing so, has sent a clear message: there is no place in the NYPD for criminal or unethical behavior.”
The Queens County District Attorney’s Office is handling the case.
