Police Officer Bribed Village Trustee For Promotion: Nassau DA

Hempstead Village Trustee Perry Pettus and the village's Deputy Police Chief, Richard Holland, were indicted by a grand jury today on bribery charges.

According to District Attorney Madeline Singas, Pettus accepted a cash bribe from Holland to promote him to deputy chief this May.

Pettus, 62, was charged with third-degree bribe receiving and official misconduct. Holland, 47, was charged with third-degree bribery. Both were released on their own recognizance and are due back in court on Dec. 4. They both pleaded not guilty, and could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

“This ongoing investigation has uncovered shocking corruption at the highest levels of Hempstead Village government and law enforcement,” Singas said. “The criminal allegations against Trustee Perry Pettus and Deputy Chief of Department Richard Holland raise serious concerns about these officials’ leadership within these institutions that serve the public and I ask anyone, especially Hempstead officers and employees, to come forward with any information that may assist this investigation.”

Pettus has been under investigation by the DA's office for a number of corruption-related cases. In October, Pettus was indicted on 29 counts of fraud stemming from attempting to fraudulently get a mortgage on a home in North Carolina and his attempt to get a debt consolidation loan with forged paperwork. A day later, he and another man were slapped with more charges related to an alleged scheme to extort business owners in Hempstead.

According to Singas, these latest charges came during the investigation into Pettus, who is the former deputy mayor of the village.

In April 2018, three police chiefs retired from the Village of Hempstead Police Department. In May, the village's Board of Trustees began interviewing candidates for the positions, and Holland was among those who applied.

According to Singas, Holland and Pettus met in the parking lot behind Spices Negril Restaurant in South Hempstead on May 14. While parked next to each other, Singas said that Holland passed Pettus cash that was wrapped in newspaper. In exchange, Singas said that Pettus voted on June 5 to promote Holland.

After the vote, Holland was promoted and was sworn in as deputy chief on June 7.

The district attorney's office says the investigation is ongoing.

Photos: Perry Pettus, left, and Richard Holland. Courtesy Nassau County District Attorney's Office.