Two cops who decided to try a little “moonlighting” on the job were arrested after they were found to have been selling official copies of NYPD accident reports as part of a victim solicitation set-up.
Authorities say that although the pair was involved in the same type of scheme, they were working independently of one another.
The district attorney’s office identified the two officers as Danny Cano, 36, assigned to the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights and Roberto Espinal, 44, who is assigned to the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst.
The arrests unfolded as the result of an investigation conducted by the Internal Affairs Department in conjunction with the District Attorney’s Integrity Bureau in response to allegations that employees of the NYPD were engaged in selling accident reports and the information contained in them
It is alleged that the officers were providing the information to individuals known as “runners” – commonly known as accident chasers, these people find accident victims and bring them to medical providers and physicians in order to maximize cases where insurance is involved.
The officers were not authorized to distribute or disseminate such information and were charged last weekend when they appeared before Queens Criminal Court Judge Gene Lopez. Cano is charged with nine counts of third-degree bribe receiving and one count of official misconduct.
Espinal is charged with two counts of third-degree bribe receiving, five counts of second-degree receiving reward for official misconduct and one count of official misconduct.
According a criminal complaint, between March and August 2013, Cano provided either copies of official NYPD accident reports or the information contained within of the names and addresses of thirteen accident victims to a “runner” in return for a total of $6,200 that he either received in cash or was directly deposited into a bank account controlled by him.
In another complaint, between May August 2013, the alleged “runner” sent texts to Espinal requesting copies of NYPD accident reports containing the names of specific accident victims. It is alleged that Espinal would obtain the requested reports, meet the “runner” at various locations in Queens to turn over the reports. He received between $40 and $800 for providing the reports. In total, it is alleged that Espinal provided copies of official NYPD accident reports containing the names and addresses of seven accident victims to a “runner” in exchange for a total of $1,500 in cash payments
Both defendants are ordered to return to court on October 9. They each face up to seven years if convicted.
By Patricia Adams
