Post by KC on Aug 30, 2006 23:08:39 GMT -5
August 30, 2006 - A New York City police officer was charged yesterday with unlawfully cashing union checks as the group's trustee, pocketing more than $1,000, said the Nassau district attorney's office.
The indictment also said Officer Philip Repaci, a New York officer since 1992, used $1,000 to bribe a witness.
Repaci, 36, of Middle Village was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and one count of bribing a witness -- all felonies. Repaci was released without bail at his arraignment in Mineola. His next court date is Sept. 13.
"This is a case that should not have been brought," said Repaci's attorney, William Petrillo of Rockville Centre. "It was thoroughly investigated by veteran prosecutors from the previous administration who correctly concluded that the case lacked merit."
Eric Phillips, a spokesman for District Attorney Kathleen Rice, said her predecessor, Denis Dillon, declined to prosecute, but Rice "has made public corruption a focus."
According to Rice's office, Repaci in September 2004 took four New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association checks to Uncle Buddy's Bar in Floral Park, where he cashed them without permission.
The checks, totaling $1,035.25, belonged to four PBA delegates in precincts within the Brooklyn North division, where Repaci then served as PBA trustee, prosecutors said.
The NYPD's internal affairs unit began an investigation in late 2004 into an allegation of the fraudulent check cashing. During the inquiry, investigators learned in the spring of 2005 that Repaci returned to the bar and handed the proprietor an envelope containing $1,000 cash for the "trouble" he was having with investigators wanting to interview him about it, prosecutors said.
www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-librib0831,0,4995852.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
The indictment also said Officer Philip Repaci, a New York officer since 1992, used $1,000 to bribe a witness.
Repaci, 36, of Middle Village was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and one count of bribing a witness -- all felonies. Repaci was released without bail at his arraignment in Mineola. His next court date is Sept. 13.
"This is a case that should not have been brought," said Repaci's attorney, William Petrillo of Rockville Centre. "It was thoroughly investigated by veteran prosecutors from the previous administration who correctly concluded that the case lacked merit."
Eric Phillips, a spokesman for District Attorney Kathleen Rice, said her predecessor, Denis Dillon, declined to prosecute, but Rice "has made public corruption a focus."
According to Rice's office, Repaci in September 2004 took four New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association checks to Uncle Buddy's Bar in Floral Park, where he cashed them without permission.
The checks, totaling $1,035.25, belonged to four PBA delegates in precincts within the Brooklyn North division, where Repaci then served as PBA trustee, prosecutors said.
The NYPD's internal affairs unit began an investigation in late 2004 into an allegation of the fraudulent check cashing. During the inquiry, investigators learned in the spring of 2005 that Repaci returned to the bar and handed the proprietor an envelope containing $1,000 cash for the "trouble" he was having with investigators wanting to interview him about it, prosecutors said.
www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-librib0831,0,4995852.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines