Queens DA Asks Courts To Vacate 60 Cases After Cops Convicted

QUEENS, NY — The Queens County District Attorney will ask the Queens Supreme Court to vacate 60 cases that relied on the testimony of three convicted New York City detectives, according to a news release.

Queens DA Melinda Katz said her office's Conviction Integrity Unit examined cases in Queens where the prosecution "relied on the work of a law enforcement officer convicted of perjury or other serious crimes."

The 60 cases include 34 that relied on former detective Keven Desormeau, 20 that relied on former detective Sasha Cordoba, and 6 that relied on former detective Oscar Sandino as essential witnesses, Katz's office said.

All three were terminated by the NYPD, according to Katz's office.

Desormeau was convicted in Queens on charges of perjury, official misconduct, and making a punishable false written statement, and pleaded guilty in Manhattan to offering a false instrument and official misconduct.

Cordoba pleaded guilty to perjury and official misconduct in Manhattan.

Sandino pleaded guilty to federal charges related to sexual assault and sexual misconduct.

“We cannot stand behind a criminal conviction where the essential law enforcement witness has been convicted of crimes which irreparably impair their credibility," Katz said in the news release. "Vacating and dismissing these cases is both constitutionally required and necessary to ensure public confidence in our justice system.”

Katz will ask Justice Michelle Johnson to dismiss the charges at a virtual hearing Monday, Nov 8 at 3:30 p.m.