WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A former NYPD officer who took bribes from a violent crew of home invaders has been sentenced.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that 33-year-old Saul Arismeny De La Cruz, a/k/a "Nene," a/k/a "Venom," was sentenced on Friday to 75 months in prison for accepting bribes to provide members of a theft crew with confidential police information about potential victims and ongoing investigations.
De La Cruz previously pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, in connection with his participation in the violent theft crew.
In addition to prison, De La Cruz, of Queens, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $100,000 in forfeiture and $219,459 in restitution to victims.
SEE ALSO: NYPD Detective 'Venom' Helped Violent Robbery Crew That Hit Westchester Homes: DOJ
"The NYPD is the greatest police department in the world," Clayton said. "Yet Saul Arismendy De La Cruz betrayed his colleagues and the New Yorkers he was sworn to protect. His selfish crimes cannot tarnish the NYPD but must be met with justice as they were today."
According to court documents, De La Cruz was one of several defendants charge for participation in the violent theft crew led by fugitive Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez, a/k/a "Pito."
Between 2017 and 2022, Soto-Ramirez assembled a crew that committed residential burglaries and home invasion robberies, repeatedly targeting small business owners. Most of the targeted victims were Asian American. Armed with guns and other weapons, members of the crew stole cash, jewelry, and other property from several homes across the country, including in Westchester County.
Other members took part in a criminal scheme, which included the use of false identification, bank fraud, and laundering theft proceeds.
In addition, Soto-Ramirez and other conspiracy members bribed De La Cruz, first an officer and later a detective of the NYPD, who helped members of the crew escape arrest.
Soto-Ramirez (pictured below) remains a fugitive. Anyone with information about his whereabouts can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or go to the FBI tips website.
Clayton praised the work of the FBI, the Westchester County Joint Organized Crime Task Force, the New York Public Corruption Task Force, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the NYPD, the Nassau County Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Fort Lee Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josiah Pertz, Jeffrey C. Coffman, and Ben Arad in charge of the prosecution.
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