A former Nassau County cop accused of moonlight for the crowd while wearing a badge was found guilty on Wednesday to make false statements to the FBI – but has rid of an obstruction of justice.
A jury of the Federal Court of Brooklyn deliberated for nine hours over two days before returning his verdict, the former friend Hector Rosario having no visible reaction as the verdict was read.
“We are happy that the jury has acquitted on the obstruction, and it is a relief they made,” said his lawyer, Lou Freeman, outside the courtroom.
The prosecutors declared during the eight -day trial that the former 51 -year -old cop “sold his badge” at the crowd for a gain of $ 1,500 per month – and even organized false raids to harass the rival mafiosos.
They said Rosario had waged war in the genovese crowd on behalf of his so -called Bonanno family managers after an agreement for the two crime unions to divide the product of an illegal playwoman called the Gran Caffe collapsed – and would then have lied to the federal on his gigodif in the illicit moonlight.
15 -year -old veteran of the county department of Nassau when he was broken in 2022, Rosario would also have reversed the crowd on law enforcement activities.
Federal prosecutors said the former cop had lied to the FBI at least 30 times when he was questioned about his link with the crowd in January 2020.
“He chose the crime family to the public he has sworn to protect,” the assistant prosecutor of the United States, Anna Karamigios, said jurors during the opening arguments at the Brooklyn American district court.
Prosecutors said Rosario had succeeded “at least one” false raid on rival game operations managed by a genovese partner, according to federal legal documents.
The ex-Fop would have targeted Salvatore “Sal the Shoemaker” Casino de Rubino in his store Long Island, the repair of SAL shoes.
The Merrick company served head on for poker games three times a week and computerized game machines.
Rubino, who testified during the Rosario trial, pleaded guilty to accusations in April with his partners.
But Rosario’s lawyer argued that prosecutors have not proven their case – and largely lean on three crowd reversals that have concluded cooperation agreements with the federal authorities.
“We ask you not to be influenced by the inflammatory evidence of the mafia,” the defense lawyer said on Monday, Kestine Thiele during closing arguments.
“You cannot condemn our client on the word of three sentenced mafia members who have all lied in the past, who have lied to hundreds of people during their criminal behavior and in their personal life,” said Thiele.
The jurors of the case refused to comment on the division verdict when they left the court on Wednesday.
Brooklyn prosecutors asked the judge to revoke the bond of $ 500,000 from Rosario, but the request was refused and he remains free until his conviction, when he risks up to five years in prison.
“This corrupt detective has chosen to prove its loyalty to a family of crime organized with the public he has sworn to protect,” American lawyer John Durham said in a statement after the verdict. “When the police exploit their posts for personal purposes, this erodes public confidence in the police.”
https://nypost.com/2025/03/05/us-News/verdict-deached-in-ase-of-alled-long-long-mob-cop-accuse-of-selling-his-badge-to-bonanno-crime-family/
