D.A. Bragg: Two NYPD Members Charged For Covering Up Drunk Driving Crash Involving Off-Duty Officer

 

Defendants Allegedly Manipulated Body Worn Camera Video

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of two New York City Police Department (NYPD) Officers, MICHAEL CALIGIURI, 31, and RYAN MCLOUGHLIN, 30, for allegedly covering up a drunk driving crash involving an off-duty officer and manipulating evidence. 

 

The defendants are charged with one count of Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree; one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree; one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence; and two counts of Official Misconduct. [1]

 

“The defendants allegedly went to great lengths to protect a fellow officer from accountability,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This type of conduct significantly harms the public trust in law enforcement. Everyone must be treated the same under the law, regardless of their position or background.”

 

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, on October 16, 2024, at approximately 10:18 p.m., a civilian called 911 to report a car crash involving an intoxicated driver at West 26th Street and 8th Avenue. The defendants responded to the call and once they arrived on scene, the civilian informed MCLOUGHLIN that the driver in the 2020 Infiniti SUV was intoxicated. The civilian also stated the driver of the Infinity had allegedly shown him a police badge and identified himself as a police officer. An NYPD-issued parking placard was also on the dashboard of the driver’s vehicle. 

 

The driver of the Infiniti, Eli Garcia, allegedly struggled to provide his license and was unable to locate the vehicle registration, but did show CALIGIURI an NYPD identification card.

 

CALIGIURI allegedly never questioned Garcia about his supposed intoxicated state and positioned his body-worn camera so that it would not fully capture his interaction Garcia.

 

CALIGIURI and MCLOUGHLIN then allegedly began communicating almost exclusively through text messages on their personal phones out of view of the body-worn camera.

 

As alleged, at one point, MCLOUGHLIN texted defendant CALIGIURI, “Idk what to do.” CALIGIURI responded with, “it[’]s bad man.” MCLOUGHLIN then texted CALIGIURI, “I’ll hold your camera[]?” 

 

CALIGIURI then allegedly removed his body-worn camera from his chest and slid it into MCLOUGHLIN’s hand. MCLOUGHLIN held the device in his right hand, with his arm extended at chest level, so that it would appear CALIGIURI was standing beside him. 

 

CALIGIURI then allegedly walked away so his voice would not be captured on video and called a supervising Lieutenant, before returning and taking back his body-worn camera.

 

MCLOUGHLIN then texted “what he say,” to which CALIGIURI did not respond.

 

Shortly thereafter Garcia drove away from the scene, without asking or receiving permission to do so, leaving behind his driver’s license. Other than waving their flashlights toward the rear of the fleeing vehicle, the defendants allegedly made no attempt to stop the vehicle, nor did they call over the police radio that the individual had fled the scene.

 

A few hours later, at approximately 1:15 a.m., an NYPD Duty Captain went to Garcia’s apartment and observed Garcia’s vehicle parked illegally in a crosswalk. After speaking with Garcia, the Duty Captain found him to be intoxicated and unfit for duty. He was arrested and charged.

 

On December 2, 2024, Garcia pleaded guilty to Driving While Ability Impaired and was sentenced to a conditional discharge, an Impaired Driver Program, a 90-day license suspension, and more than $1,500 in fines and restitution. He subsequently resigned from the NYPD.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Tavish DeAtley, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Kristen Bitetto (Deputy Chief of Police Accountability Unit) and Nicholas Viorst (Chief of the Police Accountability Unit). Senior Investigative Analyst David Wingens and Senior Rackets Investigator Sergeant Michael-Paul Greenwood are assisting with the case along with members of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, Group 12.

 

Defendant Information:

MICHAEL CALIGIURI Long Beach, NY

Charged:

•   Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
•   Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
•   Tampering with Physical Evidence, a class E felony, one count
•   Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, two counts 

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN Suffern, NY

Charged:

•   Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count
•   Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
•   Tampering with Physical Evidence, a class E felony, one count
•   Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, two counts

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.  

Sex Offender Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Enticement Of 15-Year-Old Girl In Dutchess County

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that DEREK HASSELBRINK, a/k/a “Derek Spear,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román for enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. 

“Sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “New Yorkers want sexual predators who target minors arrested promptly, prosecuted rigorously, and sentenced in line with horrific nature of their crimes.  Thanks to our prosecutors, Hasselbrink will not threaten our children for a long time.  If you suspect sexual exploitation, please reach out to our law enforcement partners.” 

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:

From at least in or about April 2023 up to on or about July 2, 2023, HASSELBRINK, a convicted sex offender, engaged in sexually explicit message conversations with a 15-year-old girl (“Victim-1”), and traveled to meet Victim-1 near her home in Dutchess County, New York, to engage in sexual activity.

Any individuals with information concerning the sexual exploitation of children are asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.

In addition to the prison term, HASSELBRINK, 49, of Quincy, Illinois, was sentenced to 15 years of supervised release.  

Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the FBI, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the Quincy, Illinois Police Department, the Adams County States Attorney’s Office, Carroll County Job and Family Services, the Office of the Attorney General of Kentucky, the Springfield, Illinois Field Office of the FBI, and the Canton, Ohio Resident Agency of the FBI in connection with this investigation.

Former NFL Player and Laboratory Owner Convicted in $328M Genetic Testing Fraud Scheme

 

A federal jury in Dallas convicted a Texas laboratory owner and former NFL player for his role in a $328 million cardiovascular genetic testing fraud scheme.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Keith J. Gray, 39, of McKinney, Texas, orchestrated a scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic tests designed to evaluate the risk of various cardiovascular diseases and conditions. Gray, the owner and operator of two clinical laboratories, Axis Professional Labs LLC (Axis), and Kingdom Health Laboratory LLC (Kingdom), offered and paid kickbacks to marketers in exchange for their referral of Medicare beneficiaries’ DNA samples, personally identifiable information (including Medicare numbers) and signed test orders from medical providers authorizing the medically unnecessary genetic tests. As part of the scheme, the marketers engaged other companies to solicit Medicare beneficiaries through telemarketing and to engage in “doctor chase,” i.e., to obtain the identity of beneficiaries’ primary care physicians and pressure them into approving genetic testing orders for patients who purportedly had already been “qualified” for the testing during telephone calls conducted by non-medical personnel at one of the companies retained by the marketers — not by their physicians.

In an effort to conceal the kickback payments, Gray used sham contracts and invoices that purported to charge for “marketing” hours but that in reality were reverse-engineered to match the amounts agreed to under the illegal per-sample kickback arrangement. Gray also sought to conceal the scheme by, among other things, referring to the payments as being for “software” and loans that never existed. Evidence at trial included text messages between Gray and his co-conspirator becoming giddy over the amount of money they were making from Medicare. For example, Gray’s co-conspirator stated, “$ent, you should have it any minute if you don’t already. Get it?” Gray responded, “Sorry I was filling my bathtub with ones. Yes lol.”

Axis and Kingdom billed Medicare approximately $328 million for the false, fraudulent and kickback-tainted genetic testing claims, of which Medicare paid approximately $54 million. Gray laundered some of the proceeds by purchasing expensive luxury vehicles, including a Dodge Ram truck worth more than $142,000 and a Mercedes Benz SUV worth more than $145,000.

The jury convicted Gray of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, five counts of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute and three counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Gray faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Dallas Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region; Chief William Marlowe of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), South Central Field Office, made the announcement.

The FBI, HHS-OIG, MFCU and VA-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Ethan Womble and Adam Tisdall of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Unplug and Play: New York State Opens Two Free Snowmobiling Weekends for Visitors to Explore New York State

 

Registration Waived for Out-of-State Snowmobilers for Two Winter Weekends to Encourage Outdoor Recreation

Snowmobilers Reminded to Put Safety First While Exploring Trails 

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announces two free snowmobile weekends for out-of-state snowmobilers to come explore the more than 10,000 miles of snow-covered trails throughout the state. As part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Unplug and Play” initiative, New York State will again waive registration fees for out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers February 27-March 1 and March 6-8, 2026, encouraging visitors to plan a trip.

"One of the positive benefits of this year’s snow and deep freeze is all the outdoor winter recreation possibilities and snowmobiling is certainly one of the most popular," OPRHP Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said. "New York is the perfect place hop on a sled and explore mountains, forests and miles of well-groomed trails. Thanks to our partnership with snowmobile clubs, counties, and municipalities, New York State offers an extensive and safe trail network. With Governor Hochul’s reminder to ‘Get Offline, Get Outside,’ these annual weekends can open the eyes to many more visitors to take in breathtaking views and adventure. Please remember to put safety first while enjoying these weekends and come back again and again."

During these two weekends, the registration requirement in New York is waived for already properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling enthusiasts – from the Hudson Valley to the North Country to Western New York. Participants must operate a snowmobile that is registered in their home state/province and must carry any applicable insurance, as required. Outside of this promotion, out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers are required to register their snowmobiles with New York State before hitting the State's trails.

These free snowmobiling weekends, February 27-March 1 and March 6-8, 2026, help support tourism for State and local economies, and reinforce New York's commitment to the industry. New York State remains committed to snowmobile trail maintenance, and our local grants program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the State Department of Motor Vehicles are deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute these grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the State, which in turn groom and maintain the trails.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "New York is home to thousands of miles of trails all across the state, and the free snowmobiling weekends invite visitors to explore and experience our diverse landscapes and communities in a unique way. These annual events help support regional tourism and small businesses by welcoming out-of-state and Canadian travelers who dine, shop and stay for a weekend or extended getaway."

New York State reminds riders to observe trail conditions and safety procedures while snowmobiling. Trail conditions vary depending on snowfall amounts and other factors. Snowmobilers, fishermen, skiers and snowshoers should put safety first and proceed with extreme caution before venturing on ice- or snow-covered bodies of water. Historically, the two leading causes of snowmobile injuries in New York State are excessive speed and operator intoxication.

Top safety recommendations include:

• INSPECT and properly maintain your snowmobile; carry emergency supplies
• ALWAYS wear a helmet with DOT-certified standards and make sure you wear appropriate snowmobile gear including bibs, jackets, boots, and gloves to withstand the elements
• ALWAYS ride with a buddy or group and tell a responsible person where you will be riding and your expected return time
• SLOW DOWN. Ride within your ability
• STAY ON MARKED TRAILS. Respect landowners and obey posted signs
• NEVER drink alcohol or use drugs and ride
• FROZEN BODIES OF WATER are not designated trails; if you plan to ride on ice, proceed with caution and be aware of potential hazards under the snow. If you choose to ride on ice, wear a snowmobile suit with flotation built-in and carry a set of ice picks as a precaution.

The free snowmobile weekend complements Governor Hochul’s efforts to encourage outdoor recreation with both "Get Offline, Get Outside" and "Unplug and Play." Check the websites of area snowmobile clubs for information on trail conditions, including the status of grooming. Individuals operating a snowmobile should be familiar with safe riding practices and all applicable laws, rules and regulations. The New York State Snowmobile Association website provides information about snowmobiling and snowmobile clubs. Maps of the State snowmobile trail network are available on New York State Parks' website.

Here’s more information on snowmobiling from State Parks and DEC; to plan a great snowmobile getaway and other ways to enjoy winter in New York State is available at iloveny.com/winter.

The DMV reminds New York riders that snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. Snowmobile registration costs $100 but is decreased to $45 if the snowmobiler is a member of a local snowmobile club.

Non-New Yorkers who wish to use a snowmobile in New York State before or after this promotional weekend can use the NYS Registration for Out-of-State Snowmobile service to get a 15-day registration and operate their snowmobile here immediately. DMV will send a permanent registration in the mail.