Three Former NYPD Police Officers Plead Guilty to Bribery Scheme

 

In Exchange for Bribes, Two NYPD Officers Steered Damaged Vehicles to a Tow Truck Company Operated by a Former NYPD Officer

 James Davneiro, a former New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in a scheme to steer vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to a licensed tow trucking and automobile repair business company in contravention of NYPD’s Directed Accident Response Program (DARP) in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes (the “Tow Truck Scheme”).  On November 15, 2022, former NYPD officer Michael Perri pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in the Tow Truck Scheme.  On November 16, 2022, former NYPD officer Giancarlo Osma pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in the Tow Truck Scheme. 

At the time that they participated in the Tow Truck Scheme, Davneiro and Osma were NYPD officers assigned to the 107th Precinct in Queens, New York.  Perri was also an NYPD officer assigned to the 107th Precinct at the outset of the scheme, but subsequently retired in June 2020 and began operating a licensed tow trucking and automobile repair business that received the damaged vehicles pursuant to the Tow Truck Scheme. Davneiro resigned from the NYPD in November 2021 and Osma resigned on November 16, 2022. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the guilty pleas.

“These three officers abused the public’s trust and disgraced their NYPD badges by lining their pockets with bribes,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.  “This Office will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute corruption by those who are sworn to enforce and uphold the law.”

“The investigators of our Internal Affairs Bureau left no stone unturned in this case because there is zero tolerance in the NYPD for corruption of any kind,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell.  “We worked tirelessly in this case, alongside our partners in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office, to ensure that those who swore to serve and protect the public but violate that trust face severe consequences.”

According to court filings and facts presented at the plea proceeding, between May 2020 and May 2021, Davneiro and Osma received thousands of dollars of bribe payments from Perri in exchange for steering vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to a licensed tow trucking and automobile repair business operated by Perri, instead of using the NYPD’s DARP, as legally required. DARP requires the NYPD to identify appropriate licensed tow trucking and automobile repair businesses to respond to automobile accident scenes and remove damaged vehicles. 

This plea took place before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner.  When sentenced, each of the defendants faces up to five years in prison.  As part of their respective pleas, Davneiro has agreed to forfeit $25,000, Osma has agreed to forfeit approximately $26,011, and Perri has agreed to forfeit approximately $158,277.