New Haven Independent

Crooked Cop Gets 15 Months

by Andrew Mangino | May 27, 2008 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

(Updated 3:10 p.m.) Between tears, his wife called him “strong” and “proud.” Through shouts from the courtroom pews and hallways, the mother of one of his targets called him a “wicked devil.” The prosecutor said it is “harder for police to do their job” because of him.

The judge concluded that he of all people “should have known better” — and handed down the sentence: 15 months.
That was the scene in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport Tuesday as Justen Kasperzyk, a former New Haven detective with a gambling addiction, saw his luck run out for good.
Kasperzyk had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights and theft of government property. He planted drugs in a bust in an apartment on Truman Street. He also pocketed cash from drug cases to feed his gambling habit.
Kasperzyk is one of four detectives who have been charged with crimes since an FBI sting operation in March of 2007, which sparked a still-ongoing effort to revamp the city’s police department.
The government sought an 18-24-month sentence for Kasperzyk. In advance of Tuesday’s sentencing, Kasperzyk hand-wrote and submitted a seven-page memo seeking leniency, in part by arguing that he was trying to help win the War on Drugs by planting evidence.
In court, though, he stuck to a simple apology.
“I am truly for mistakes that I have made,” he told Senior U.S. District Court Judge Alan H. Nevas, choking up. “Please understand I am not a horrible person.”
Contrite—even tear-laced—words did not spare Kasperzyk from a courtroom skeptical of an argument he had seemed to advance in his memo: that in serving the greater good, ends may justify means.
When Nevas pressed the matter, Kasperzyk’s defense counsel, Ethan Levin-Epstein, found himself caught between two storylines. On one hand, he cited his client’s “35 or more” commendations within the NHPD and said a distinction can be made between an officer who violates a crime for personal gain and one who does it for the greater good. He also, however, conceded that he found himself in an “internally inconsistent” role, since he, personally, believes Kasperzyk demonstrated “arrogant,” “stupid,” “selfish,” and “just plain dumb” behavior as well as a “disregard for what’s appropriate.”’
Nevas, for his part, said the idea that “innocent citizens might be necessary victims” in working to take “bad people off the streets” of New Haven was a “very troubling” notion. He expressed concerned that Kasperzyk might have employed the argument in rationalizing his actions.
And from the gallery, a whisper could be heard as Kasperzyk apologized: “That didn’t come from his heart,” said the mother of a man who was framed and sent to jail by Kasperzyk. She sat with about 10 supporters in the courtroom.
The discussion came after brief remarks by Kasperzyk’s wife Neisha, who cried as she lamented that her husband’s dignity as the “breadwinner of the household” had been lost since his arrest.
“The past 14 months have been the most trying on our hearts,” she said, telling the court she worked overtime as her husband took care of the kids and “never missed” a single baseball practice or game. She has “held” him many times, she added, as he has “shuddered and shook” and awoken from “nightmares” caused by regret over the “mistakes he has made.”
Prosecutor Nora Dannehy, Connecticut acting U.S attorney, raised another matter before the judge deliberated during a recess: Kasperzyk, she said, did not fully cooperate with prosecutors in identifying other corrupt cops. Instead, he offered isolated assistance in pursuing the prosecution of his former boss, Lt. Billy White, and former detective Jose Silva. He said he could not remember details of other instances in which he or his colleagues “may” have lied in affidavits, altered evidence or knowingly prosecuted innocent individuals.
“It is difficult for me to accept the fact that your client did not have information on other corrupt police officers that he failed to disclose,” Nevas said.
After more than an hour of discussion, the judge said he found it difficult to decide on a sentence, calling it a “very awesome responsibility” and “the hardest thing that a judge has to do.”
“Your case is different because you are a police officer,” he said, pressing again the point that an innocent man spent time behind bars because of his actions. “You know you could have said the word, and he would have left jail. I can’t square that with all the good things I hear about you. You, of all people, should have known better.”
Kasperzyk and his family remained stoic as the sentence was handed down. The group of protesters rolled eyes and quickly left the courtroom.
“I’m very upset,” said New Haven criminal justice activist Barbara Fair. “Fifteen months is nothing… for the lives he destroyed.” She called the decision an example of “blatant racism” in the justice system and said she believes many other corrupt cops still walk the streets of New Haven, preying particularly on black residents who happen to be in the “wrong place at the wrong time.”

Click here to read a memo Kazperzyk submitted seeking leniency. Click here to read the government’s sentencing memo.
In contrast to when Kasperzyk’s former boss, White, was sentenced as part of this FBI sting, Kasperzyk had few people speaking on his behalf Tuesday. Just his wife and his attorney.
His uncle, mother and son did submit letters the judge beforehand. The letters made mention of Kasperzyk’s “troubled” childhood and alcoholic father.
As Kasperzyk drove away after the sentencing in a black SUV, protesters bombarded the car with signs. Among the slogans: “Betraying public trust… Do the crime, do the time…. No excuses!!!!”

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Posted by: What? | May 27, 2008 1:24 PM

I read his plea to the court, disgusting and self serving. This guy is a police officer, sworn to protect and serve. Instead he stole money and planted drugs, and sent an innocent man to jail. No telling how many times he did this and did not get caught. I'm not one to cast stones, god knows I've done my dirt, but he desn't even get the minimum that the prosecutors asked for. He should at least have gotten the 18 months, and probably closer to 21. What does his sentence say to all those young men out there who may be considering straightening out their lives? I'm just totally disgusted.

Posted by: b | May 27, 2008 1:43 PM

How do corrupt cops fair in prison typically?

Posted by: bfair | May 27, 2008 3:45 PM

The one thing that I took away from witnessing the sentencing of both of these slime officers (White and Kasperzyk)is that even in doing wrong they are given preferential treatment during sentencing. When our children face the judge they are never talking MONTHS as a sentence. They only talk YEARS of their lives being taken away. Corrupt officials not only receive laughable sentences (mostly from snitching on other officers) but they get to choose a date to turn themselves in as well as advise what facility they want to be housed so their families don't have to travel far(like the rest of us) for a visit. Both will be held at a camp in New York. They were criminals on the streets and now they will be housed together at the same facility.Wonder what they will be involved in there? In addition both oficers have a nice pension to collect for the rest of their miserable lives at the cost of taxpayers. And who says "crime doesn't pay". I guess it all depends on which line of work you are in. The judge stated that he found it "disturbing" that he and his family, including his children's letters "seeemd to justify" his criminal behavior and also that when he was involved in the illegal gambling parties he brought two younger officers along (training them) but in the end he gave him less than what the guidelines called for. Where's the deterrence?

Posted by: new havener | May 27, 2008 4:27 PM

ok white and kasperzck go to jail...what about the rest of the case...everything is quite now...is the investagation still on.....anymore arrest coming up....it's hard to believe all these years and higher authority figures not seeing any of this...the chief the mayor someone had to know something..

Posted by: Elfer | May 27, 2008 4:45 PM

"When our children face the judge they are never talking MONTHS as a sentence. They only talk YEARS of their lives being taken away." Barbra, do you really want to make comparisons? Well, here we go some criminals spend YEARS committing crimes, and serve YEARS after being tracked down and caught - all while showing no regard for our communities; and very few individuals while protecting our communities for a lifetime, do some criminal activity and admit to their mis-deeeds and indeed only spend MONTHS doing time. These officers have been served Justice. Spend some of your ample time doing community service and help our youth avoid putting themselves in situations so they don't spend YEARS doing time.

G-d Bless our men and Women in Uniform. We will stand behind our Men and Women in blue, even during this difficult time. Pursue the criminals with vigor, lock 'em up and keep our neighborhoods safe.

Posted by: Fonseca | May 27, 2008 7:35 PM

Does anyone else remember when Kasperzyk used to direct club traffic outside Toads Place after 2am? Overtime hours wearing padded football gloves and pummeling drunken college students in the street.

Posted by: bfair | May 27, 2008 8:29 PM

Here we go, (as expected). Am I suppose to take you serious? At first when you were describing those who spend years committing crime, destroying communities and after years of doing and finally get caught and so end up in prison I thought you were talking about these slime officers because it fit them so well but when you said they get YEARS I realized you were insinuating my sons. Do your research before TRYING to discredit my comment. Mr K admitted(in his transcripts, not mine) that he has been committing crime since he was placed under the supervision of Mr White (2003) that was 5 years ago. Do the math. He claims White told him "this is how you do things, if they don't have anything, produce it" so let's be honest when defending the slime. As far as community service I have been given several awards for community service from the community, the state and national organizations so do you research on that also. As far as supporting the men and women in blue. I overwhelmingly support the MANY officers who wear their uniform with pride and dignity, they love our kids and do everything that they can to protect them from those VERY FEW who decide to use their badge to shield their own criminal behavior while destroying the lives of our youth with false arrests and convictions. In the report Mr K was said to have made more arrests than any other officer. Did he arrest his illegal gambling partners? I think not. Did he arrest the other corrupt cops operating under his wing? I think not. Did he arrest others who benefitted financially from his criminal behavior and charge them with conspiracy? I think not.Did he lose everything due to his participation in a criminal enterprise. I think not.So before you try to continue this falacity that Mr K walked on water and fell down ONE time, do your research and come back with something better than your initial remarks. Get over it he's a convicted felon, a snitch and scum of the earth and he has disgraced the New Haven Police Dept and tainted the reputation of all those wonderful officers who are doing good for our community.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | May 27, 2008 8:37 PM

Elfer
There is one man or woman in blue that i will stand behind and that are the officers who will stand up like frank serpico!!!

Posted by: Elfer | May 27, 2008 10:50 PM

There you go again, the comments had nothing to do with you or your sons, not everything revolves around your perspective on crime. However I'm glad my previous comment caused you to finally come out in defense of our Men and Women in Blue.

As the next step in your well-known community service activities, let's start by converting me to your lens on crime over a cup of coffee.

The good news is we finally have a forum to give the hoy-ploy an opportunity to see what we stand for and what our values are.

P.S. Barbara Fair please get energetic and excited when we have another (daily occurrence) shooting victim in New Haven.

Barbara stay safe and good night!!!

Posted by: In the Hood | May 28, 2008 11:07 AM

I don't know any of these people including BFair and children. But what I do know is the abuse of power and responsibility of these officers were reprehensible.

I live in the 'hood and most of the officers I deal with in the hood and those whom I call friends are good and decent people(as far as I know). But I am sick and tired of reading about those who prey on our community.

Brazen street thugs who rob,beat, shoot and kill people do not need to be walking free in society.

Neither should crooked criminal cops who lie, cheat, steal and destroy innocent lives via systemic corrupt and outlandish behavior.

Posted by: bfair | May 28, 2008 12:42 PM

Fonseca: I didn't know Kasperzyk personally but I know he had a nickname in the community, "Maniac". That should tell you something. Elfer:If I misunderstood your message, sorry about that but I am accustomed to comments relative to my sons PAST criminal beahvior to distract from an inflamed issue. Not one time has anyone wieghed in and said Barbara's sons are now hard working men, atending college, construction classes, raising families and mentoring youth to stay out of the system. Of course that would not be newsworthy. Energized relative to our youth in crisis? I am constantly engaging and being supportive of OUR children and youth because I have a GENUINE love and respect for them including those engaged in self destructive behavior.I accept your invitation to have a conversation about "the system" if you promise to come with an open mind because it is fruitless to try and impact a closed mind.By the way, get over yourself. Your comments did not illicit any supportive comments relative to GOOD officers, those who are here because they are GENUINELY concerned about protecting and serving our community. I have MANY officers whom I consider great friends and just as MANY whom I have a good working relationship and have been spportive of them many times. There are those who portray me as an enemy of the law. I recognize it as what it is...a way to distract from my message and that's ok but know that I am an enemy to: (1) those who have shed the white sheets and now don 3 piece suits, expensive shoes, and blue uniforms because they are of grave danger to a caring and compassionate society (2) those who practice injustice, inequity and indiference to others and (3) those who defend them. I don't mind being on their enemy list.I am not moved by their opinion of me. I detest them and don't mind telling them so.

Posted by: tired of it | May 28, 2008 1:03 PM

So tell me Barbara Fair how many time did your children (angels, that I'm sure they are)get caught before they actually did time. How many lives did they potentially ruin by distributing their poison on the streets of New Haven, but I'm sure they were wrongfully prosecuted, and of course admitted to crimes that they never, ever would have committed.
One thing I have noticed, is that the people who utilize the word "Racist" usually are the biggest racist's going.
I believe there should have been stiffer penalties on these officers, especially due to the disgrace that they have brought to the criminal justice system. But you Babara Fair are bringing your personal feelings into the matter. Pay attention to the legal world, most criminals and that is what they are, do not get stiff penalties with their first crime.
Don't even say thay your children got stiff penalties with their first arrest either.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | May 28, 2008 2:22 PM

To all is this about crooked cops or Barbara Fair
family,Bottom line this is about crooked cops, And from what i hear more are to come,For all who stand by these crooked cops become a pen pal. Also rember this when these slim bags get out the people of new haven will being using there tax dollars to surport these slime bags on the fat pension money that there will get!!!

Posted by: bfair | May 28, 2008 2:55 PM

You chose the right name to hide behind. If you are not "tired of it" you should be. Take your tired self to bed and come up with some NEW dialogue.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 28, 2008 7:42 PM

Elfer and tired of it I am with you guys on this.
Barbara again I respect the fact that you fight a fight against corruption and bad cops and yes the judge could of done more. But what I disagree with was well stated by "tired of it".
(as stated above) This was a first offense. And yes even dirty cops get the same brakes that dealers get. Dealers do not go to jail the first time the second time...and even if they go the third time it is a reduced sentence.
Yes these cops did damage to our city and to people who live here. And the time they got should of been more. But I feel for officers that can not put a "known" dealer in jail. The dealers work the laws and escape the law because of them. A dealer is not a person trying to make a buck because socity has not afforded him a fair shake. They are participates that make quick and big money off the suffering of people. They do more damage in one day than a cop can do by putting one of them in jail.
Lets say one dealer sells to 15 people each of those people have 1 to 2 kids a wife and a mother and a father, sisters and brothers. They have orphaned up to 30 kids that day.. destroyed the future of 15 families put 15 sets of parents into a state of worry and ruined dreams for their child never mind the cost to society because these people rob and mug to get money to pay these dealers. Not to mention the death that indirectly happen due to the addiction that they profit off. And this is just one days work for a dealer let do the math in a years time. Not to mention dealers that even take EBT cards for payment, which means some child is not eating out there!! the list goes on. So how much damage can 1 drug dealer do! How many lives does 1 drug dealer effect in a bad way!
Sorry got a little carried away with that. And don't get me wrong the buyer did by the drugs but still dealers try to justify what they do and guess what there is NO JUSTIFICATION. And they are the ones that should be locked up for a long time.

What I really wish is CT would get a law like this one...
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3618

Posted by: tired of it | May 28, 2008 9:10 PM

Gee, did I hit a nerve Ms. Fair. What I am tired of are people like you, getting on their soap boxes and preaching about how bad the police and the system are. It is the only one we have, though it is not perfect and it does need help.
I do not condone what the cops did, there is and should be consequencs for your actions. You don't see a parade of police officers at the court defending what these officers did. That should tell you how the majority of the police feel.

Posted by: William Doriss | May 28, 2008 9:30 PM

Cedarhillres, you are missing something: the war on drugs and crime is a sham and a bust,... and is the real reason why you "folks" in New Haven find yourself in the predicament you now find yourselves in.

We went into Afghanistan several years ago to eliminate the Taliban and their poppy fields. Fast forward: today, more heroin comes out of Afghanistan than before we intervened, and the Taliban are making a comeback. Them's the facts. Get real.

The U.S. government is involved in the "drug" business, hook, line and sinker,... profitably I might add. Can U say Imperialism? Can U say Prison-Industrial Complex? Are you hopelessly naive, or just a frequent flyer? Have you ever been West of West River? East of the Quinnipiac River? North of North Haven? Or South of Long Island? I don't think so.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | May 28, 2008 9:39 PM

Cedarhillresident
Again double standard,How about a law for the Illegal Immgrants who rob and steal id and
social security numbers like my friend in new york who just had this happen to her when she took her family out to dinner and the low life
took her took her pocketbook and sold her information should she not have the right to sue?
Also i rember that you said you know some illegal
immgrants who blend in how come you will not turn
them in this makes you a law breaker!!! The illegals here in new haven are working the law. I love you double standard.

Posted by: citysavior | May 28, 2008 9:40 PM

It is difficult for me to accept the fact that your client did not have information on other corrupt police officers that he failed to disclose,"Judge Nevas said.
so the judge thought that this crooked cop was hiding info but still gave him a deal? what kind of horse**** was that! If there were any others in the police department why didn't their names come up in the prob or did the rest retire? wink wink. I have never heard a cop use the old it was my upbrining that made me make the bad choices. wow how could his lawyer possible thought that this would work.

Posted by: citysavior | May 28, 2008 9:53 PM

the sentence below is attached to the letter asking for a reduced sentence
"See, letter from Martin Tchakirides, attached hereto as Exhibit E."
can you get a copy of this. I believe this is another officer? it would be intresting what he had to say about this corrupt cop

Posted by: bfair | May 29, 2008 9:16 AM

Tired: Go back to sleep. Your dialogue is still tired.
Cedarhill: You say that you feel for the officer who can't put a dealer away? The judge himself stated that corrupt officers don't operate within a vacuum: that officers know who the bad cops are. I feel for them because they know but fear coming forth (remember Serpico?)I felt for Ortiz years ago when he tried to get rid of the top bad cop but did not have the power to do so and had to claim that he didn't know what was going on. As you can so easily see the damage that one dealer can do why is it that your eyes lose sight of the damage that a crooked cop can do to a child, family and community? Let's take one officer who steals, lies in reports, plants evidence, arrests innocent people just because he can. One man is falsely arrested and now that child can't eat because of loss of income,mom can't pay the rent and they are now homeless,child has lost a provider and mentor and now has to cope with that loss, mom overwhelmed loses control one day and hits child, DCF steps in removes child and now child in foster care where they may be bounced from home to home, parents lose custodial rights , child begins to have school problems maybe ending up suspended from school because noone recognizes that child is in pain.child ends up using drugs to cope with the loss and school rejection, child ends up in system and on and on .multiply that child times 50. That officer now takes other officers under his wing and teaches them how to do things outside the law and multiply that times 10 and see the harm that one officer can do. And multiply years of corruption times 10 and see how destrutive this one officer can be? By the way neither officer was sentenced for a first time offense. Read transcripts. There were years of corruption. The dealer gets years and officers who gave an oath to uphold the law gets months. Finally,the greatest harm is that bad cops undermine trust in police work. We cannot turn a blind eye to criminals when they turn out being police offciers.Now I'll get off my soapbox. Sorry "tired of it". Hate on.

Posted by: kris | May 29, 2008 8:07 PM

Bfair,come on lets be real here...you said dad gets busted goes to jail,mom cant pay rent without dad blah blah blah.The reality is dad sells drugs..doesnt care about kid or mom cause hes got more kids and girlfriends than just the one.Dad is known dealer but the system sucks and it takes MANY arrests before he does time...mom is fine and so is child cause dad was never around anyway(too busy making an HONEST living)section 8 (MY TAXES) pay rent food stamps feed them and mom finds another drug dealer to have another baby with.Dad calls from prison and says he has found god(like everybody in prison does)but he loves them and needs money for prison commisary and misses them and wants many visits and letters and fathers day is coming and he needs new sneakers..Dad gets out of jail and forgot to take god with him... sells drugs again until his next arrest and in the mean time mom has 3 more babies with 3 different men still on section 8 and triples her food stamps and dont forget about free health care for the whole family.Kid grows up and turns into dad if hes a boy or mom if shes a girl.We see it all the time and evryone knows it.Like they say the apple doesnt fall far from the tree.

Posted by: Edward_H | May 30, 2008 9:03 AM

he was trying to help win the War on Drugs by planting evidence

What a novel idea! Perhaps I can help win the War on Drugs by buying marijuana. If I get caught I can tell the judge I was buying the drugs to help the police get it off the street.

Posted by: tired of it | May 30, 2008 12:56 PM

No, Ms. Fair my dialogue is not tired, but it appears that you are. If you notice, I am in agreement with you on some of your topics. But once again, you allow your personal anger get in the way of thinking clearly.

Posted by: Heights resident | May 30, 2008 3:00 PM

Wow, Kris you don't sugar coat, I have to respect you for those comments. It's the truth although there are exceptions to the rule ( Angelo Reyes ), in Fair Haven is one shinning example, he turned his life around and is now the Prince of Island.

But for the most part it is a revolving door and the scum keep returning and the courts keep kicking them back to the hoods to destroy some more, without regards to the community. Kasperszk and White should be ashamed of themselves and take there punishment like men. They sullied the name of real good cops that protect us and put there lives on the line.

Crooked Cop Gets 15 Months

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