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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. - Westchester County Police Officer Michael Brady was among 16 people arrested in a drug trafficking scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut.
Its very disturbing to all in law enforcement, George Longworth, Sheriff of the Westchesther County Department of Public Safety, said of Bradys role in the investigation, Were all shocked and surprised.
Brady, 36, of New York was charged with receiving bribes to help traffickers securely bring oxycodone illegally through Westchester County Airport, the release said. The 11-year veteran was suspended without pay, Longworth said. He had been stationed at the airport for several years, the sheriff said.
The bribes were received in cash or gift card form and were approximately $500 in value, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut David B. Fein said at a press conference Tuesday.
Authorities first found out about the ring this past April when they received information that an individual was travelling from West Palm Beach, Fla. to Stamford, Conn. with large quantities of pills. That person was arrested in a Stamford hotel in possession of about 6,000 oxycodone pills on April 8, Fein said.
The individual then explained how the operation worked. He would travel up from Florida with about 8,000 pills and sell all of them for about $10 per pill, and then would go back down to Florida with the money earned, Fein said.
Others arrested either Monday or Tuesday morning for being involved in the case were: Christopher Allen of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla, John Best of Port St. Lucie, Fla, Brigitte Jones of Bronx, Justin Kolves of Florida, Jessica Douglas of Florida, Sami Naber of Yonkers, NY, Emmanuel Babe of Mount Kisco, NY, Wilner Castelin, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla, Bruce Yazdik of Waterbury, Conn., David Gaudiosi of Waterbury, Conn., Patrick Serafine of Waterbury, Conn., Marivette Alicea of Waterbury, Conn., Christopher Roderick of Canterbury, Conn., Steven Stopper of Naugatuck, Conn., Kevin Lund of Naugatuck, Conn., Bernard Famiglietti of Waterbury, Conn., and Sandra Canfield of Waterbury, Conn.
The investigation has not ended as authorities are still looking into the origin of the pills and how the drug traffickers got them.
To reach reporter Anthony Buzzeo, e-mail: tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com.
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