NYC DOC OFFICER INDICTED FOR SELLING PHONY DISABILITY PARKING PLACARDS, 3 OTHER OFFICERS CHARGED WITH POSSESSING THE PLACARDS

 

Joint Investigation by Bronx DA’s Office and NYC Department of Investigation

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett today announced that five people—including four NYC Department of Correction Officers—have been indicted for using forged New York City disability parking placards. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “Members of our community with severe disabilities need these placards to enable them to park near their place of work, doctor’s office and other essential places so they can go about their lives more easily. The defendants—four of them Correction Officers—allegedly corrupted the placard program for their own convenience. Now they face felony charges.”

 Commissioner Garnett said, "The City Correction Officers charged in today's indictment allegedly sold or used fraudulent parking placards, abusing a program that is meant to aid New Yorkers with disabilities. Distributing or using fraudulent parking placards is corruption -- plain and simple -- and City employees who attempt to profit from this conduct, whether monetarily or through other benefits, will be held accountable. DOI thanks the Bronx District Attorney's Office for their partnership on this case."

 District Attorney Clark said the defendants, NYC DOC Officers Nakia Gales, 44, of Manhattan; Shyiera Daniels, 29, of Manhattan; Judy Guity, 46, of the Bronx, and Rasma Caines, 43, of the Bronx; as well as Craig Scott, 60, of the Bronx, have been indicted on second-degree and third-degree Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. Gales, Daniels, Guity and Caines were arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary. They were released on their own recognizance and they are due back in court on March 16, 2021.

 According to the investigation, DOI learned that Gales sold forged placards, taking payments ranging from $200 to $280 per placard. The placards were viewed in the vehicles of the five defendants. The indictment charges Gales with the sale of three forged parking placards. 

 District Attorney Clark thanked DOI. The case was investigated by Assistant Inspector General Noah Mohney, Investigator John Bourke, and Investigator Matty Lupinacci, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Michael Antolini, First Deputy Inspector General Daniel Boylan, Inspector General Andrew Brunsden, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella, and First Deputy Commissioner Daniel Cort.

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.