Brooklyn Man Arrested For Bribery In Connection With NYPD - Issued Gun Licenses

Neighborhood Safety Patrol Member Bragged In Recorded Conversation of 150 Gun Licenses

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and William J. Bratton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that ALEX LICHTENSTEIN, a/k/a “Shaya,” was arrested and charged in Manhattan federal court with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with his efforts to pay bribes to obtain gun licenses through the NYPD’s License Division.  LICHTENSTEIN was arrested by FBI agents and officers from the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau (“IAB”) on April 17, 2016, in Pomona, New York, and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman in Manhattan this afternoon.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “As alleged, Alex Lichtenstein sought to bribe police officers with thousands of dollars to obtain gun licenses.  Just a few days ago, claiming that his prior connections in the License Department were no longer able to help, Lichtenstein allegedly attempted to bribe another officer.  As alleged, Lichtenstein offered the officer $6,000 per license, bragging that he had already used his NYPD connections to obtain 150 gun licenses.  Corruption in any part of government cuts at the very fabric of our society.  But it is particularly damaging when it undermines public safety.  I thank the FBI and the New York City Police Department, particularly its Internal Affairs Bureau, for their dedication and commitment to this ongoing and important investigation.” 

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez said, “The requirements for obtaining a legal gun license are there for very specific reasons, and the details of this case illustrate why those regulations are needed.  This bribery scheme allowed a man to obtain a gun who made a threat against someone’s life.  It’s further alarming that Lichtenstein bragged about beating the system and potentially put the general public in danger.” 

NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton said: “This case was developed as part of a long-term joint investigation by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office. As we have previously stated, this investigation will continue to go where the leads take us.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court[1]: