3 former NYPD officers plead guilty in tow vehicle bribery scheme
Three former NYPD officers, two of whom are from Long Island, have pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to participate in a scheme to steer vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to a licensed tow trucking and automobile repair business company at 107th Pct. in Queens, New York on Nov. 17, 2022 Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Three former NYPD officers — including two from Long Island — pleaded guilty to federal charges of scheming to divert damaged vehicles to an unauthorized towing company in return for bribes, federal officials announced Thursday.
Former Det. James Davneiro, 43, Bayside, Queens, and former officers Giancarlo Osma, 40, of Deer Park and Michael Perri, 33, of East Islip, pleaded guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Rachel Kovner to conspiracy charges. Davneiro entered his plea Thursday, Perri pleaded guilty Tuesday and Osma on Wednesday.
According to court documents, Davneiro and Osma bypassed the regular NYPD towing process, known as Directed Accident Response Program or DARP, and used a towing and repair facility run by Perri following his retirement from the force in 2020. The name of the towing company wasn’t identified in court records.
Prosecutors said that between May 2020 and May 2021, Davneiro and Osma, while working out of the 107th Precinct in northern Queens, received thousands of dollars of bribe payments from Perri in exchange for steering vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to his licensed tow trucking and automobile repair business instead of using DARP sanctioned facilities.
“These three officers abused the public’s trust and disgraced their NYPD badges by lining their pockets with bribes,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement.
As part of their guilty pleas, the ex-cops, each of whom face up to 5 years in prison when sentenced, agreed to forfeit various amounts of money: Davneiro $25,000, Osma $26,011, and Perri will forfeit $158,277, Peace said. Court records showed that a sentencing date has yet to be set by the court. Davneiro resigned from the NYPD in November 2021 and Osma resigned on Nov. 16, the day he entered his guilty plea.
Defense attorneys for Osma and Perri didn’t return telephone calls for comment. Robert Gottlieb, who defended Davneiro, cited his client’s history of service as a cop.
“The citizens of New York City should give thanks that Detective Davneiro has devoted his life to protect them, day in and day out for years,” Gottlieb said. “He has spent a career on the force, committed to serving the public and he has done so honorably.”
Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.
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