New Haven Independent

Another Detective Nabbed In Corruption Probe

by Melissa Bailey | October 5, 2007 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

(Updated: 5:35 p.m.). A young detective was the latest city cop to be snared in a federal corruption probe, as two former members of the disbanded narcotics unit pleaded guilty in federal court Friday. Detective Jose R. Silva (pictured above) and former city detective Justen Kasperzyk (pictured below) both pleaded guilty to civil rights violations for their role in a 2006 narcotics raid where drugs were planted in a suspect’s room.

The two former colleagues also admitted to splitting a $1,000 bounty that Kasperzyk had stolen from a separate drug raid.

Kasperzyk, 35, pleaded guilty to one felony civil rights violation and one misdemeanor charge of theft of government funds in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport Friday morning. According to terms set by a plea agreement, he faces 18 to 24 months in prison and a fine of up to $40,000. (Click here to read Kasperzyk’s charge and here to read his guilty plea).

Silva, 36, faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 according to a plea agreement: He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor civil rights violation for his role in covering up the planting of drugs during a 2006 narcotics raid on a Truman Street home.

(Click here to read Silva’s charge and click here for his plea agreement.)

Kasperzyk, a 12-year veteran of the city police force, had already been named in a months-long FBI sting operation investigating bribery and theft within the city narcotics unit. As the result of that probe, Kasperzyk and ex-Lt. Billy White were arrested in March, and the narcotics unit was disbanded. (Click here to read the potboiler arrest warrant).

“The former and the current detectives and former lieutenant William White are people with deplorable values whose actions we will not condone,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., in reaction to Friday’s news.

Silva was placed on paid leave after meeting with Police Chief Cisco Ortiz later Friday, according to city spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga. Ortiz recommended termination and made Silva give back his gun, badge and department ID. His termination hearing before the Board of Police Commissioners had not yet been scheduled as of Friday.

Kasperzyk and White were already terminated in April. White is earning a $91,000 annual pension; Kasperzyk is earning a pension of $41,000.

Gambling Drove Theft

Back in March, Kasperzyk was charged with theft of government property for allegedly stealing $360 of a total $5,000 that the FBI had planted at a fake drug scene on March 5, 2007 at a city motel.

“I kept the $360 for myself to support my gambling addiction,” Kasperzyk told U.S. District Judge Alan Nevas Friday, a black suit pulled tight over his bulky frame. One supporter, his wife, sat behind Kasperzyk.

Indeed: The feds had marked the bills from the motel to track their destination. When the feds later raided a Wooster Street social club, they found $320 of the marked bills among money seized from an illegal poker game.

Drugs Planted

New charges Friday centered on a new incident— a drug raid at 65-67 Truman St. on Nov. 9, 2006.

Silva co-wrote a search warrant to look for drugs at that house. When he and Kasperzyk got to the house, they saw a man leaving a first-floor bedroom, according to court documents. Kasperzyk later found suspected narcotics in the basement of the house, which was included in the scope of the search warrant, but was a communal space shared with multiple apartments.

Kasperzyk admitted he took the drugs from the basement, moved them upstairs then planted them on a dresser in the bedroom from which a suspect had come, next to the suspect’s ID. The suspect “was arrested for narcotics in the bedroom even though I put the drugs there,” admitted Kasperzyk.

The man was later exonerated after Kasperzyk got nabbed in the FBI sting, but his suffering — being publicly named as a criminal, arrested and held behind bars — is the center of the civil rights charge.

Silva, who wrote the report for that incident, admitted he knew what Kasperzyk was up to, and covered up the misdeed.

“I did not participate in moving the [drugs], but I did have knowledge that they were moved,” said Silva in court, standing straight in a gray suit, with slightly graying hair.

Pocketing The Loot

The fellow detectives were also involved in a drug raid on Fillmore Street on March 1, 2007, where a substantial amount of money was seized. Kasperzyk admitted to stealing $1,000 from the scene, keeping $500 for himself, then slipping $500 into Silva’s pocket. He told Silva “there was a surprise for him,” according to the plea.

“Money was left in my jacket pocket by another detective. I kept that money and did not report it,” Silva admitted in court. Silva declined to comment on his way out of court with a polite “No, ma’am.” Kasperzyk slipped out a back door, and his lawyer declined comment.

Nevas set Kasperzyk’s sentencing date for Jan. 10. Silva’s was set for Jan. 4.

Had the federal corruption probe met its end today?

“This by no way concludes our work,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor outside the courthouse. “This is an active, ongoing investigation.”

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Comments

Posted by: New Haven Tea Party | October 5, 2007 12:07 PM

He wrecked people's lives and now will live out his natural life with a fat pension and disability payments - 75% of which are tax free. Some punishment...I wonder how many other people he framed, or what other money he stole along the way when he and Billy Baby were ripping and roaring through town. Kasperzyk should go to church every day and thank god for the police union and screw the taxpayer pension and disability board who never met a diability claim they didn't love. Thank you mayor...I believe this is another one of the boards you control.

Posted by: WEBbloger 1 | October 5, 2007 2:16 PM

"Kasperzyk, 35, faces 18 months to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $40,000 after pleading guilty to a felony and a misdemeanor charge in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport Friday."

Wow.. what a sweet heart deal, 18 months to two years----- translation----- 6 to 14 months, on the street in 9 months for good behavior.

What a deal, when you consider that the druggie would get 10 to 20 years suspended after 12 years for good behavior.

More importantly, the feds do not even need Kasperzyk or Silva in order to get Billy White.

Or maybe the Feds want Kasperzyk to give up another higher-up.
Stay tuned

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 5, 2007 3:27 PM

Were more arrests coming as part of the federal corruption probe?
"This by no way concludes our work," said U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor outside the courthouse. "This is an active, ongoing investigation."

Any guesses??
I hope they clean the place up so that our good ones can do there jobs!!
We need to change the pension rules before we arrest the rest.

Posted by: mory | October 5, 2007 3:54 PM

Correction: kasperzyk faces up to 10 years and $250,000 fine on the civil rights charge, and up to one year and $100,000 fine on the misdemeanor theft charge, according to the plea agreement. Maybe some other figure was discussed in court.

People don't realize this, but inmates in federal prison serve at least 80 percent of their sentence. He also has to pay resitution.

Silva is going get a light sentence for his cooperation.

Posted by: adam smith | October 5, 2007 4:21 PM

A pig in jail doesn't have such a great life, and then there's the fact that he'll lose his house, and never be a police officer again.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 5, 2007 8:10 PM

One more thing are the arrests going to happen before the elections or after. Roamers are starting to fly on my end and it is going to be a big scandle if they are true. hmmm

Posted by: New Haven Tea Party | October 5, 2007 8:41 PM

Has Silva filed his disability and pension papers yet? lol....

Posted by: DAFeder | October 5, 2007 9:12 PM

Any way the fines can be pegged to the amount of the pensions? I'd love to see these guys' pensions turned over to a fund to train better officers.

David

Posted by: FairHavenRes | October 5, 2007 9:55 PM

The crooked cops harm the whole community, not just the suspects. As a resident of Fair Haven, I am frustrated by the drug dealing, prosititution, and thuggery that happens on a daily basis.
While filling my tank at the Hess station on State, a drug dealer waited under the lights of the canopy for the buyer to arrive. The drug addict pulled in, as if he was there for gas, the drug dealer took the money and then slipped the drugs. Off the drug dealer went, to a waiting car and they left. He was polite enough, wishing me a good night.

I imagine that the police are frustrated by the games of these drug dealing fools, undermining the tranquility of our neighborhoods. The guy on Fillmore is a dirt bag rotten drup dealer. The cops screwed up, the rule of law, not to fabricate evidence, etc....we know all this. But we will never hear about this dirtbag's record in the trial, not relevant the judge and lawyers will say. But it is relevant, the prior history of these jerks should be considered.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 7, 2007 11:14 AM

FairHavenRes

I worked very hard it, took almost a year to get corp. Hess to make the management company of the Hess to put in security cameras. Just a month ago we finely got them. That is in my neck of the woods it is Cedar Hill. (newhallville policing district). We have know police here (to out of the way for them so they leave us to fend for ourselves). Last night I saw an officer in his car napping at the Willow Street gas station. It is his favorite parking stop. I had no camara but plan on pursuing it in the future. He could of be at the Hess!!! OHHHH Don't get me going on this!!! They admit that the Hess is a hot spot but yet they do nothing!!! Pisses me off. You can sit there all hours of the day and watch deals!! And now they are on camera which the cops have access to and they have yet to use them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 7, 2007 3:21 PM

ps..
we were promised cops not to long...someone shut that down on us...
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/02/sergeant_r_swee.php
story about the hess
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2006/11/a_triumph_for_b.php

Posted by: fairhavener | October 8, 2007 2:36 PM

"The premise is that the single most important step in the development of a good officer is the initial one - identifying the right candidate."

http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Police/Divisions/Academy.asp

Good job Geniuses. And I suppose these same "officers" would have remained employed had it not been for the FBI. What happened to your "comprehensive process"?

"In 1990, the New Haven Police Department embarked on a comprehensive process to become a fully dedicated community-policing agency. Organization changes were strategic and programmatic. It also required a new way of teaching policing."

Yeah, I like the new way much better. What happened to the new DTE "charged with the mandate of educating police officers that would work together with neighborhood residents to maintain order legally, humanely, respectfully and equitably"? I haven't seen much of this lately.

But you guys (Ortiz & Co.) are right the "job of police officer [sic] was changing and a different type of individual with a precise set of strengths, especially communication skills, was needed..." And here are some great moments that showcase these communication skills:

"I kept the $360 for myself to support my gambling addiction," Kasperzyk

"I did not participate in moving the [drugs], but I did have knowledge that they were moved," said Silva

Now, if only all the other corrupt sons of... would step up and display their communication skills.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | October 8, 2007 3:01 PM

fairhavener
we have another one..

One that admitted to receiving overtime pay and spending it because of harassment.

Another Detective Nabbed In Corruption Probe

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