(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.”
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.