Verdict In NYPD Corruption Scandal That Involved Rockland 'Fixer'

NEW YORK — A jury on Wednesday convicted a former donor to Mayor Bill de Blasio but acquitted a former high-ranking cop in a police corruption trial. The jury in Manhattan federal court found the onetime fundraiser, Jeremy Reichberg, guilty on four out of five counts but acquitted ex-Deputy Insp. James Grant after a trial that started nearly two months ago.

Prosecutors alleged that Reichberg and his former business partner Jona Rechnitz — who became the government's star witness in the case — bribed Grant and other cops in exchange for favors such as police escorts. Reichberg, a local businessman with deep ties to Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community, was able to bypass city law and secure police favors for him and his friends.

“As a unanimous jury found, Jeremy Reichberg orchestrated a years-long bribery scheme that led to tens of thousands of dollars in benefits being provided to a select group of NYPD officers to provide Reichberg with a private, paid police force," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said after the verdict. "These illegal acts clearly undermine the mission of the NYPD and leave the citizens of New York City poorer, and Reichberg’s subsequent attempt to hide evidence of his scheme from law enforcement cannot be tolerated. We respect the jury’s verdict as to James Grant, and we thank the jurors for their service during this lengthy trial. Our Office will continue to work with the NYPD and the FBI to prevent corruption.”

Grant, 43, former head of the police precinct covering Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace and Green-Wood, and Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, 50, a former patrol officer in the northern half of Brooklyn, were accused by the feds of holding central roles in a monstrous "pay to play" bribery scheme based out of the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn.

Among the alleged gifts was a private jet trip to Las Vegas on which a prostitute accompanied Reichberg, Grant and others, according to a 2016 indictment in the case.

Grant's lawyer reportedly said prosecutors gave the former cop rough treatment. "I'm very happy that Jimmy gets this opportunity to try to rebuild his life," said the lawyer, John Meringolo, according to Newsday.

Grant's lawyers argued that Rockland resident Alex “Shaya” Lichtenstein made a statement potentially exonerating Grant just before Lichtenstein's 2016 arrest for his part in the massive NYPD corruption scandal, in a video Lichtenstein recorded at his Pomona home while getting drunk in front of FBI agents.

Lichtenstein was recently released after 32 months in jail for his part in the scandal, which began surfacing when his activities in the NYPD's Gun Licensing Division came to light.

In exchange for issuing under-the-table gun licenses, officers allegedly accepted liquor, limo rides, a winery tour and thousands of dollars in cash from Lichtenstein, an alleged associate of Reichberg's and a member of Borough Park's private, Orthodox-only security team.

SEE:

• Top NYPD Officials Charged in Corruption Probe Involving Rockland Man
• Little Prison Time for Rockland Gun License 'Fixer'

By Noah Manskar and Lanning Taliaferro

Image via Shutterstock