Suffolk DA: Cop tipped mobster on gambling raid

A Suffolk cop with nearly three decades on the force gave a mobster a tip on a raid at illegal gambling operations in exchange for discounted car repairs, according to the Suffolk County district attorney's office.

Prosecutors also charged an investigator in their own office in connection with assisting an illegal gambling ring.

DA investigator John White, 61, a retired NYPD lieutenant with the office for six years, used a Suffolk police computer last November at the DA's office in Hauppauge at the request of people "managing and protecting an illegal gambling operation controlled by organized crime," according to his felony computer trespass complaint.

Suffolk officer Robert Dito, 57, "revealed the existence and upcoming execution of a search warrant for the benefit of an organized crime associate in an effort to protect illegal gambling operations," said his criminal complaint.

The arrests were part of an investigation into leaks during a probe of illegal gambling, District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Calling the men's actions "beyond shocking," Spota said his office "couldn't figure out how certain information was reaching certain people who are part of organized crime."

While both were arraigned Wednesday, White and Dito are not co-defendants.

Dito faces charges of felony computer trespass and official misconduct for taking a bribe. White was charged with computer trespass.

Electronic surveillance caught one of the men "actively speaking to members of organized crime, disclosing information," Spota said. "The Suffolk police officer was certainly endangering the lives of other officers."

Investigators arrested Dito Tuesday. He has been suspended without pay, a police spokeswoman said.

Dito is accused of accessing improperly a computer last September at a Suffolk police compound adjacent to Long Island-MacArthur Airport. Dito works at the Emergency Services Unit there.

According to the complaint, Rob's Pro Towing in Ronkonkoma provided Dito with discounted repairs between August 2009 and last February.

Officials said the information Dito improperly accessed came from a state Department of Motor Vehicles computer.

"There is absolutely no evidence that my client has any knowledge of individuals being members of organized crime," said White's attorney, Robert Wolf of Manhattan. "He did not tip anyone off, and there is no allegation that he tipped anyone off."

Dito's attorney didn't return a message Thursday.

The complaint against White says a computer audit showed that in November 2009 he "gained access to computer material at the request of individuals who were managing and protecting an illegal gambling operation controlled by organized crime."

At Rob's Pro Towing Thursday, an employee said he did not know Dito. A message left for the shop owner was not returned.